IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


!• 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


1^ 


IIIM  IIIIM 
111 


1^ 


l^  m 


1.4 


IIIIM 
IIIM 

1.6 


6" 


"^S-    e 


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o 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Coiporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


n»''J4i!«!W'> '  ^;ijJg^'g^/g^?^|a7^^r';^^!^a'■«,;!!»^»'W;ay '' 


'S? 


f^*/ 


f/j 


i 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Tochnical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
rept    -Ruction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Kl 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  da  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
11  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  diait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film§es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemptaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vua  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  peiliculdes 

I      I    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


n 


Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  indgale  de  i'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


I  I  Pages  detached/ 

I  I  Showthrough/ 

I  I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I  I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6X6  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fagon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

K 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

MMi 


laire 
s  details 
ques  du 
It  modifier 
(iger  une 
le  filmage 


Id/ 
qu6es 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thani;8 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  cpies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


taire 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  •-^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exempiaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmi§s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exempiaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signif ie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  rignifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^ients. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
da  I'angle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


i  by  errata 
Imed  to 

ment 

,  une  pelure, 

} fagon  d 

le. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

iaiii 


THIxS    NUMBER   CONTAINS 


iK^ 


IN  THE  MBSTIF  jy 

Author  of  "In  •  8tMm«t*  CW^"  «FPOt»  Wao»«  Boura,"  ^ 

oo:M::px4isyXTSi       /-  j 


->-7^-'- 


AUGUST,  1S93 


MONTHLY  MAGAZf?^^  '^ 

CONTENTS 

"ram MBIT #AUffiiir    .  .  .  ««»«rtB(wv        t*«^i9 

Zaohary  Taymwi.  bis  Hqmk  ako  Family.    (IHuftrrted)  -.<«««*  JMitUfm  Watsim     ,  220 

The  Natiouai,  Game.    (Athletic  Series.)    (lllurtnued) .  fftrtan  B.  YmiHg  .       .       .  2ig 

Frkedom.    (Poem) Clara /essup  Moore  234 

Jane's   Houday.     (lippancatt's  Notabkt  Stories.— No. 

VI.)    (Illustiated) VaUrie  Btft  JBtrry       .        .  23$ 

The  Drbam^Ship.    (Poem) M,  H.  G 339 

The  Lady  <w  the  La*e.    (At  the  Fair}        .       .       .  JmHan  Hawthvmt        .       .240 

MoETAitxY-    (ftjem) Himmd  Hall       •  ,     -       •  247 

A  PHiLAi>B];j>ritA  ScuuToft.    (Illusttated)      .       >        .  E.  LesUe  GUiHms  249 

SopESMUKnANB  Fiction W.Jff.  Bc^hcock     ...  t'A 

Men  op  the  Oay     .       .       .       .       .       •       •       ■  ^-  Crafim     .       .       .       ,  255 

PRICE  TWENTY-FIVE  CENTS 
'JsB:  LlPPlNCOTT:C2:  PHILADELPHIA : 

f  LONOOH:  WAaO,  LOCK,  BOWPEH    ft  CO. 

— ^■.  ...  ____        —  ---mmmttm 


«   ^ 


lAa 


You  need  wait  no  longer  i 

0 '      '  -     i.yjr'iii'»i(i mat 

TROKONETS. 

The  very  best  and  most  reliable  hand-cameras  ever  made. 
No  faulty  film,  no  glass  plates  to  break;  itm,  glass  plates  can 
be  used. 

FILM    LIES    PLAT,    DEVELOPMENT   A   PLBASUStlB. 
SLIGHTLY  TOUCH  THE  LEVER  AND  A  PICTURE  Sft 
TAKEN. 

The  loading  of  a  Trokonet  with  $$  flln»«  i»  but  the  work  o% 
a  moment. 

Take  a  TRQKONBT  with  you  te  the  WORLD'S  PAIR. 

All  Photographic  Diiders  seU  them. 
Ti'okonet  catalogue  free  on.^>pUcatioc. 


THE  PHOTO  MATilRlALS  CO./ Manrjactuixsrs, 

ROCI1E5TBR.  N.  Y. 


Bright^ 
Disease 

•nd  all  otiMr  ttahbOiRi  oooh 
{daitito  of  tiw  ta&uty,  lAnt, 
■nd  Stomwi^,  oaa  be  ctued  bgr 
tbe  great  uinenl  iqiccific, 


Bedford 
Waier. 


Bottled  jwt  n  it  flows  fkom  ^ 
spriag,  Bbaohitdy  {mhMuid  «B> 
sdolterated.    Pxn«ribed|g^EiiNj 
eminent  physicians  of^itte  <dbvf  Tj 
aad  enty  day  gzowlaglQiat« 
poptdar.   8i^  by  draoi^btB.'"' 

A  bSMitttd  book  of  IntMMtNl 
ftotumatliMi  JW*. 

BBSFORb  nm^UI.  SPRIHQt  CO., 

BBOPORD.  PA. 

B«  SteBleyHart  h  Co.,  Seliiag  Ag(s» 
isamuikun  au  Btw  rnS^, 


mmii^mfmi^Siiimii 


J 


We  offep  ^ovL »  roady  made 
medicine  fdur  Oooglii,  firon- 
obitis,  and  ottier  diaeawn  of 
tl^  Tliroat  and  Luiiga.  Like 
otHer  ao-oHUed  Patent  Medi- 
oinea,  it  is  well  advertiaed,  and 
liaving  merit  it  baa  attainad  a 
wide*aale  under  tbe  nama  of 
#180*8  Core  for  Conanmption. 

tt  U  now  a '•  Hostran.'' Ounwh  «l  fint  It  «r«a  M«i' 
pfl«iidMaflwa|H«Miipttobran|ii}Krpb]Prtfli«a. 
wttbao  Idea  tbattt  wooM  aror  go  on  tta  aiatkataa 
a  i»io|^etanr  aMiIcliaa.  Bat  after  ewvapbdlnc 
that  |iraHi4(Ba«  «^r  » tboosaad  Uuw  la  liljwr. 
v»  M0uA  »*•»»'(  Cora  for  OonMm^tMPti"  aoA 
btian  adtarttktag  It  In  a  anail  way.  AommIMm 
kiMmn  all  OT«r  tha  woxM  la  tba  raanlt. 

Wbjr  la  it  not  }ait  aa  good  a*  thoni^  ooattaK  flflf 
eanta  to  a  doUw  for  a  |»ensl|>tt(»i  and  nx  aqwat 
iom  to  bftra  It  put  np  at  a  dru2  okmt 


I 


\ 


;  < 


V:' 


'5. 


ras  ever  made, 
{lasa  plate*  can 

k  PICTURE  IS 
>ut  the  work  c^ 
PAIR. 


f^acturers. 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ilfflS." 


BY 


ROBERT   BARR, 

(LUKE  SHASP,) 

AUTHOR  OF   "IN  A  STBAMEK  CHAIR,"    "FROM   WHOSE   BOURK,"    ETC. 


I  a  rea4y  made 
Ooughf,  Bron- 
«r  dlneaww  of 
I  Iiungi.  Like 
ffttent  Medi- 
LdvertiMd^aiid 
haasttftii^A 
rthe  name  of 
Coiununptioii. 

Iisoxb  rt  littt  it  w*a  OMf. 

•rer  CO  <m  tti«  BtMktt  M 
Bat  afior  fmasa^Otag 

for  OommmtMwi"  and 
intUway.  Aawilcbw 
itbanmlt. 

A  u  ttioiig]i  eaMngflfiir 
nfflptloB  mad  $a  tagmX 
Srugitont 


i'  -'  1 


5^' 


PHILADELPHIA: 

J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY. 


h- 


':xP 


Copyright,  1898,  by  J.  B.  Lippihcott  Goupant. 


Printed  sv  J. 


•M 


So^un,  PHiiAPnrHM,  U.8.A. 


•.-■J 


ink 


LIPPINCOTT'S 

]y[ONTHLY   J^AGAZINE. 


AUG'JST,   180a 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALAKMS; 


CHAPTER  I. 


IN  the  marble>floored  vestibule  of  the  Metropolitan  Grand  Hotel  in 
Buffalo,  ProfesBor  Stillson  Benmark  stood  and  looked  about  him 
with  the  anxious  manner  of  a  person  unused  to  the  gaudy  splendor  of 
the  modern  American  house  of  entertainment.  The  professor  paused 
half-way  between  the  door  and  the  marble  counter,  because  he  b^an 
to  fear  that  he  had  arrived  at  an  Inopportune  time, — that  something 
unusual  was  going  on.  The  hurry  and  bustle  uewilder^  him.  A 
man  with  a  stentorian  but  monotonous  and  mournful  voice  was  filling 
the  air  with  the  information  that  a  train  was  about  to  depart  for  Albany, 
Saratoga,  Troy,  Boston,  New  York,  and  the  East.  When  be  came 
to  the  words  "  The  East"  his  voice  dropped  to  a  sad  minor  key, 
as  if  the  man  despaired  of  the  fate  of  those  who  took  tl^ir  departure 
in  that  direction.  Every  now  and  then  a  bnusen  goag  sounded  snarply, 
and  one  of  the  negroes  who  sat  in  a  row  on  a  bench  along  the  marble- 


All  this  was  very  strange  to  the  professor,  and  he  felt  himself  in  a 
new  world,  with  whose  customs  he  was  not  familiar.  Nobody  paid 
the  slightest  attention  to  him  as  he  stood  there  among  it  fdl  with  his 
satchelin  his  hand.  As  he  timidly  edged  up  to  the  a)unter  and  tried 
to  accumulate  courage  enoueb  to  address  the  clerk,  a  young  man  came 
forward,  flung  his  grip  on  the  polished  top  of  the  counter,  metaphori- 
cally brushed  the  professor  aside,  pulled  the  bulky  roister  towards 
him,  and  inscribed  his  name  on  the  page  with  a  rapidity  equalled  only 
by  the  illegibilil^  of  the  result. 

"Hello,  Sam,"  he  said  to  the  clerk.  "How's  things?  Get  my 
tel^iam?"  ' 

"Yes,"  answered  the  clerk;  ''  but  I  can't  give  you  27.    Ifs  been 

181 


1  JT- 


18S 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


taken  for  a  week.  I  rwiervwl  85  for  you,  and  had  to  hold  on  with 
my  teeth  to  do  tliat." 

The  reply  of  the  young  man  wan  merely  a  brief  mention  of  the 
plaoe  of  torment. 

"  It  M  hot,"  said  the  clerk,  blandly.      '  In  from  Cleveland  ?" 

"  Yes.     Any  letters  for  me  ?" 


"  Couple  of  telegrams.    You'll  find  them  up  in  85." 
"  Oh,  you  were  cock-sure  I'd  take  that  room  ?" 


was  cock-sure  you'd  have  to.     It  '    either  that  or  the  fiftii 
We're  full.    Couldn't  give  a  better  room  to  the  President  if  he 


"I 
floor, 
came." 

♦'  Oh,  well,  what's  good  enough  for  the  President  I  can  put  up 
with  for  a  couple  of  days." 

The  hand  of  the  clerk  descended  on  the  bell.  The  negro  sprang 
forward  and  took  the  j'rip.  "  Eighty-five,"  said  the  olerk ;  and  the 
drummer  and  the  negro  disappeared. 

"  Is  there  any  place  where  I  could  leave  ray  bag  for  a  while  ?" 
the  professor  at  last  said  timidly  to  the  clerk. 

"Your  bag?" 

The  professor  held  it  up  in  view. 

"Oh!  your  grip.  Certainly,  Havp  a  room,  sir?"  And  the 
clerk's  hand  hovered  over  the  bell. 

"  No.     At  least,  not  just  yet.    Y- j  see,  I'm " 

*•  All  right.    The  baggage-man  tbere  to  the  left  will  check  it  for 

you." 

"  Any  letters  for  Bond  ?"  said  a  man,  pushine  h'mself  in  front  of 
the  professor.  The  clerk  pulled  out  a  fat  buncn  of  letters  from  the 
compartment  marked  "  B"  and  handed  the  whole  lot  to  the  inquirer, 
who  went  rapidly  over  them,  selected  two  that  appeared  to  be  addressed 
to  him,  and  gave  the  bunch  a  push  towards  the  clerk,  who  placed  them 
where  they  were  before 

Although  the  profesoor  was  to  a  certain  extent  bewildered  by  the 
condition  of  things,  there  was  still  in  his  nature  a  certain  dogg^  per- 
sistence that  had  before  now  stood  him  in  good  stead,  and  which  had 
enabled  him  to  distance,  in  the  long  run,  much  more  brilliant  men. 
He  was  not  at  all  satisfied  with  his  brief  interview  with  the  clerk.  He 
resolved  to  approach  that  busy  individual  again,  if  he  could  arrest  his 
attention.  It  was  some  tin'e  before  he  caught  -the  speaker's  eye,  ais  it 
were,  but  when  he  did  so  he  said, — 

"  I  was  alx)ut  to  say  to  you  that  I  am  waiting  for  a  friend  from 
New  York  >'ho  may  not  yet  have  arrived.  His  name  is  Mr.  Richard 
Yates,  of  the " 

"Oh!  Dick  Yates.  Certainly.  He's  here."  Turning  to  the 
n^o,  he  said, — 

"  Go  down  to  the  billiard-room  and  see  if  Mr.  Yates  is  there.  If 
he  is  not,  lc»ok  for  him  at  the  bar." 

The  clerk  evidently  knew  Mr.  Dick  Yates.  Apparently  not  no- 
ticing the  look  of  amazement  that  had  stolen  over  the  professor's  face, 
the  clerk  said, — 

"  If  you  wait  in  the  readiug-room  I'll  send  Yates  to  you  when  he 


/ 


IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


Itt 


lold  on  with 
intion  of  the 
iland?" 


,  or  the  fifth 
resident  if  he 

can  put  up 

negro  sprang 
eric ;  and  the 

for  a  while?" 


?"    And  the 


11  check  it  for 

jlf  in  front  of 
tters  from  the 
)  the  inquirer, 
}  be  addressed 
o  placed  them 

ildered  by  the 
in  dogged  per- 
ind  which  had 
brilliant  men. 
he  clerk.  He 
ould  arrest  his 
kef's  eye,  as  it 

a  friend  from 
a  Mr.  Richard 

timing  to  the 

s  is  there.     If 

irently  not  no- 
)rofessor's  face, 

0  you  when  he 


comefi.  The  Iray  will  And  him  if  he's  in  the  house;  but  he  may  be 
up-town." 

The  professor,  disliking  to  trouble  the  obliging  clerk  further,  aid 
not  ask  nint  wlicre  the  reading-room  was.  Ho  inquired  instead  of  a 
hurrying  porter,  and  received  the  curt  but  comprehensive  answer,— 

"  Dining-room  next  floor.  Keading-,  smoking-,  and  writiog-roomiB 
up  the  hall,     fiilliard-room,  bar,  and  lavatory  down-stairs." 

The  professor,  ai'ter  getting  into  the  barber-shop  and  the  oigar-ntore, 
finally  found  his  v.ay  into  the  reading-room.  Numerous  daily  papers 
were  scattered  around  on  the  table,  eacii  attaohe<l  to  a  long  clumsy  cleft 
arrangement  of  wood,  while  other  dailies  sioiilarly  encumbered  hung 
iirom  racks  against  the  wall.  The  professor  sat  down  in  one  of  the 
easy  leather-covered  chairs,  but,  instead  of  taking  up  a  paper,  drew  a 


he  was  soon  so  absorbed  that  he 
strange  surroundings.  A  light 
up  from  his  book  into  the  world 
*        the  stern  face  of  a  heavily- 


thin  book  from  bib  {xxsket,  in  M'hich 
became  entirely  unconscious  of  his 
toucu  on  the  shoulder  brought  him 
again,  and  he  saw  looking  aown  on  him 
moustached  stranger. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  but  may  I  ask  if  ycu  are  a  guest  of  this 
house?" 

A  shade  of  apprehension  croaeed  the  professor's  face  a*'  he  slipped 
the  book  into  his  pocket.  He  had  vcguely  felt  that  he  was  ti-espass- 
ing  when  he  first  entered  the  hotel,  and  now  his  doubts  were  con- 
firmed. 

"  I — I  am  not  exactly  a  guest,"  he  stammered. 

"  What  do  you  Ojcan  by  not  exactly  a  guest  ?"  continued  the  other, 
regarding  the  professor  with  a  cold  and  scrutinizing  gaze.  "  A  man  ig 
either  a  guest  or  he  is  not,  I  take  it.     Which  is  it  m  your  case  ?" 

"  I  presume,  technically  speaking,  I  am  not." 

''Technically  speaking !  More  evasions.  Let  me  ask  you,  sir,  as 
an  ostensibly  honest  man,  if  you  imagine  that  all  this  luxury — this — 
this  elegance — is  maintained  for  nothing?  Do  you  think,  sir,  that  it 
is  provided  for  any  man  who  has  cheek  enough  to  step  out  of  the 
8b*eet  and  enjoy  it?  Is  it  kept  up,  I  ask,  for  people  who  are,  tech- 
uically  speaking,  not  guests?" 

The  expression  of  conscious  guilt  deepened  on  the  face  of  the  un- 
fortunate professor.  He  had  nothing  to  say.  He  realized  that  his 
action  was  too  flagrant  -to  admit  of  defence,  so  he  attempted  none. 
Suddenly  the  countenance  of  his  questioner  lit  up  with  a  smile,  and  he 
smote  the  professor  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Well,  old  stick-in-the-mud,  you  haven't  changed  a  particle  in  fif- 
teen years.     You  don't  mean  to  pretend  you  don't  know  me?" 

"  You  can't— you  can't  be  Richard  Yates?" 

"  I  not  only  can,  but  I  can't  be  anybody  else.  I  know,  because  I 
have  often  tried.  Well,  well,  well,  well  I  Stilly  we  used  to  call  you, 
don't  you  remember?  I'll  never  forget  that  time  we  sang  'Oft  in  the 
stilly  night'  front  of  your  window  when  you  were  studying  for  the 
exams.  You  always  toere  a  quiet  fellow,  Stilly.  I've  been  waiting  for 
you  nearly  a  whole  day.  I  was  up  just  now  with  a  party  of  ft-ieuds 
when  the  boy  brought  me  your  card.    A  little  philanthropic  g^er- 


Ji^ 


«Sw<<Hli"<«|liilli 


Im 


W^. 


184 


•  /if  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS" 


ine, — sort  of  rautiial  Iwnelit  arran|;eraent,  you  know  :  each  of  us  oon- 
trlbtitrd  what  we  couUi  8|>are  into  a  general  fund,  wliioh  waa  given 
to  some  deaerving  person  in  the  crowd. 

"  Yes,"  laid  the  profesttor,  dryly.  "  I  heard  the  clerk  telling  the 
boy  where  he  would  be  most  likely  to  find  you." 

"Oh,  you  did,  eh  ?"  cried  Yates,  with  a  laugh.  "  Yea,  Sara  g»»n- 
erally  knows  where  to  send  for  me;  but  be  needn't  have  been  ho 
darned  public-  almut  it.  Being  a  newspafier  man,  I  know  what  ought 
to  go  in  print  and  what  Hhould  have  the  l)lue  pencil  run  through  it. 
Sam  is  very  discreet,  aa  a  general  thing ;  but  then  he  knew,  of  course, 
the  moment  he  set  eyes  on  you,  that  you  wei-e  an  old  i>al  of  mine.'' 

Again  Yates  langh<>d,  a  very  bright  and  cheery  laugh  for  s^  evi- 
dently wicked  a  man. 

"  Come  along,"  he  said,  taking  the  professor  by  the  arm.  "  We 
must  get  you  located." 

They  j)aflH«l  out  into  the  hall  and  drew  up  at  the  clerk's  counter. 

"  I  say,  8ani,"  crie<l  Yatea,  "  can't  you  do  something  better  for  us 
than  the  fiflh  floor?  I  didn't  come  to  Buffalo  to  engage  in  ballooning. 
No  sky-parlors  for  me,  if  I  can  help  it." 

"  I'm  sorry,  Dick,"  said  the  cler'«c,  '  but  I  expect  the  fifth  floor 
will  be  gone  when  the  Chicago  express  gets  in." 

"  Well,  what  can  you  do  for  us,  anynow  ?" 

"  I  can  let  you  have  618.  That's  the  next  room  to  yours.  Really, 
they're  the  most  comfortable  rooms  in  the  house  this  weather.  Fine 
look'^ut  over  the  lake.  I  wouldn't  mind  having  a  sight  of  the  lake 
myself,  if  I  could  leave  the  desk." 

"  All  right.  But  I  didn't  come  to  look  at  the  lake,  nor  yet  at  the 
railroad-tracks  this  side,  nor  at  Buffalo  Creek  either,  beautiful  and 
romantic  ps  it  ia,  nor  to  listen  to  the  clanging  of  the  ten  thousand  loco- 
motives that  pass  within  hearing-distance,  for  the  delight  of  your 
fjuests.  The  fact  is,  that,  always  excepting  Chicago,  Buffalo  is  more 
ike — for  the  Professor's  sake  I'll  say  Hades,  than  any  other  place  in 
America." 

•*  Oh,  Buffalo's  all  right,"  said  the  clerk,  with  that  feeling  of  local 
loyalty  which  all  Americans  possess.  "  Say,  are  you  here  on  this 
Fenian  snap  ?" 

"  What  Fenian  snap  ?"  asked  the  newspaper-man. 

'*  Oh  !  don't  you  know  about  it  ?  I  thought  the  moment  I  saw 
you  that  you  were  here  for  this  affair.  Well,  don't  say  I  told  you,  but 
I  can  put  you  on  to  one  of  the  big  guns  if  you  want  the  particulars. 
They  say  they're  soing  to  take  Canada.  I  told  *em  that  I  wouldn't 
take  Canada  as  a  gift,  let  alone  fight  for  it.     I've  been  there." 

Yates's  newspaper  instinct  thrilled  him  as  he  thought  of  the  possi- 
ble sensation.  Then  the  light  slowly  died  out  of  his  eyes  when  he  looked 
at  the  professor,  who  had  flushed  somewhat  and  compressed  his  lips  as 
he  listened  to  the  slighting  remarks  on  his  country. 

"  Well,  Sam,"  said  the  newspaper-man  at  last,  '♦  it  isn't  more  than 
once  in  a  lifetime  that  you'll  find  me  give  the  go-by  to  a  piece  of  news, 
but  the  fact  is,  I'm  on  my  vacation  just  now.  About  the  first  I've  had 
for  fifteen  years :    so  you  see  I  must  take  care  of  it.    No,  let  the 


»tN   THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


IM 


h  of  us  oon- 
li  was  given 

I  tolling  th« 

m,  Sam  g^n- 
ave  b«eii  ho 
r  what  ought 
through  it. 
w,  of  course, 
>{  mine.'' 
\\  for  er>  evl- 


arm. 


"We 


c's  counter, 
better  for  us 
n  ballooning. 

ie  fifth  floor 


an.  Really, 
•ather.  Fine 
,t  of  the  lakw 

lor  yet  at  the 
>eautiful  and 
lousand  loco- 
ht  of  your 
alo  is  more 
ther  place  in 

eling  of  local 
here  on  this 


oment  I  saw 
told  you,  but 
e  particulars. 
it  I  wouldn't 
ere." 

of  the  poesi- 
hen  he  looked 
ed  his  lips  as 

't  more  than 
liece  of  news, 
first  I've  had 
No,  let  the 


Argwt  get  scooped,  if  it  wantn  to.  They'll  value  mv  services  all  the 
more  when  I  get  heck.     No  618,  I  think  you  Baid  f^ 

The  olerk  lianded  over  the  key,  and  the  pn^fe-isor  gave  the  boy  the 
check  for  his  valiHe,  at  Yates'N  Huggvstinn. 

"  Now  get  a  move  on  you,  said  Yales  to  the  elcvator-b<>y. 
"  We're  going  right  through  with  you." 

And  so  the  two  friends  were  ehot  up  together  to  tLe  fifth  floor. 


CHAPTEH   IT. 


The 


sky-parlor,  as  Yates  hud  termed  it,  cei  >  ;ily  commanded  a 
very  extensive  view.  Immediately  underneath  was  a  wilderness  of 
roofs.  Further  along  were  th«  railway-tracks  that  Yat«.>8  obje(!ted  to, 
and  a  line  of  masts  and  proptillor-funnels  marke<l  the  windingx  of 
Buffalo  Creek,  along  whose  banks  arose  numerous  huge  elevators,  oach 
marked  by  some  trerrcndcu/t  letter  of  the  alphaliet  done  in  white  paint 
against  the  sombre  brown  of  the  big  building.  Still  farther  to  the 
west  was  a  more  grateful  and  comforting  sight  for  a  hot  day.  The 
blue  lake,  dotted  with  white  sails  and  an  occasional  trail  of  smoke, 
lay  shimmering  in  the  broiling  sun.  Over  thn  water,  through  the 
distant  summer  haze,  there  could  be  seen  the  dim  ii.:e  of  the  Canadian 
shore. 

"  Sit  you  down,"  cried  Yates,  puttini,  both  hands  on  the  other'» 
sbouldera  and  pushing  him  into  a  chair  near  the  window.  Then, 
placing  his  flnger  on  the  electric  button,  he  added,  "  What  will 
drink?" 

"  I'll  take  a  glaso  of  water,  if  it  can  be  had  without  trouble,"  said 
Renmark. 

Yates's  hand  dropped  from  the  electric  button  hopelessly  to  his  side, 
and  he  looked  reproachfully  at  the  professor. 

"  Great  heavens  !"  he  cried ;  "  have  something  mild.  Don't  go 
rashly  in  for  Buffalo  water  before  you  realize  what  it  is  made  of.  Work 
up  to  it  graduHlly.     Try  a  sherry  cobbler  or  a  milk  shake  as  a  startcir." 

"  Thank  you,  no.  A  glass  of  water  will  do  very  well  for  aie. 
Order  what  you  like  for  yourself." 

'*  Thanks.  I  caii  be  depended  on  fur  doing  that."  He  pushed  the 
button,  and,  when  the  boy  an{)eared,  said,  "Bring  up  an  iced  cobbler, 
and  charge  it  to  Professor  Renmark,  No.  518.  Bring  also  a  pitcher 
of  ioe-water  for  Yates,  No.  520.  There,"  he  continued,  gleefully, 
"I'm  eoine  to  ' 


y'»u 


{going  to  have  all  the  drinks,  except  the  ice-water,  charged  to 
rou.  I'll  pity  the  bill,  but  I'll  keep  the  account  to  hold  over  your 
lead  in  the  future.  Prof.  Stillson  Renmark  Dr.  to  Metropolitan 
Grand— one  sherry  cobbler — one  gin  sling— -one  whiskey  cocktail,  and 
so  on.  Now  then,  Stilly,  let's  talk  business.  You're  iiv,t  married,  I 
take  it,  or  you  wouldn't  have  respond«l  to  my  invitation  so  promptly." 
The  professor  shook  his  head.  "  Neither  am  I.  You  never  had  the 
courage  to  propose  to  a  girl,  and  I  never  had  the  time." 

"Lack  of  self-conceit  was  not  your  failing  in  the  old  days,  Rich- 
ard," said  Renmark,  quietly.    Yates  laughed. 


f 


— \ yr-- 


136 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMH.' 


"  Well,  it  didn't  hold  rae  back  any,  to  my  knowledge.  Now  I'll 
tell  you  how  I've  got  along  since  we  attended  old  Scragmore's  academy 
together  fifteen  years  ago.  How  time  does  fly !  When  I  left  I  tried 
teaching  for  one  short  month.  I  had  some  theories  on  the  education 
of  our  youth  which  did  not  seem  to  chime  in  with  the  prejudices  the 
school  trustees  had  already  formed  on  the  subject." 

The  professor  was  at  once  all  attention.  Touch  a  man  on  his 
business  and  he  generally  responds  by  being  interested. 

"  And  what  were  your  theories  ?*  he  asked. 

"  Well,  I  thought  a  teacher  should  look  after  the  physical  as  well 
as  the  mental  welfare  of  his  pupils.  It  did  not  seem  to  me  that  his 
duty  to  those  under  his  charge  ended  with  mere  book-learning." 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you,"  said  the  professor,  cordially. 

"  Thanks.  Well,  the  trustees  didn  t.  I  joined  the  boys  at  their 
games,  ho])ing  my  example  would  have  an  influence  on  their  conduct 
on  the  play-ground  ac  well  as  in  the  school-room.  We  got  up  a  rat- 
tling good  cricket-club.  You  may  not  remember  that  I  stood  rather 
better  at  cricket  in  the  academy  than  I  did  in  mathematics  or  gram- 
mar. By  handicapping  me  with  several  poor  players  and  having  the 
best  players  among  the  boys  in  opposition,  we  ma'le  .a  pretty  evenly 
matched  team  at  sdtool -section  No.  12.  One  day  at  noon  we  began  a 
game.  The  grounds  were  in  excellent  condition,  and  the  opposition 
boys  were  at  their  best.  My  side  was  getting  the  worst  of  it.  I  was 
very  much  interested,  and  when  ono  ydock  came  I  thought  it  a  pity 
to  call  school  and  spoil  so  good  and  interesting  a  contest.  The  bovs 
were  unanimously  of  the  same  opinion.  The  girls  were  happy  pic- 
nicking under  the  trees.    So  we  played  cricket  all  the  afternoon." 

"  I  think  that  was  carrying  your  theory  a  little  too  far,"  5aid  the 
professor,  dubiously. 

"  Just  what  the  trustees  thought  when  they  came  to  hear  of  it.  So 
they  dismissed  me ;  and  I  think  my  leaving  was  the  only  case  on 
record  where  the  pupils  genuinely  mourned  a  teacher's  departure.  I 
shook  the  dust  of  Canada  from  my  feet,  and  have  never  regretted  it.  I 
tramped  to  Buffalo,  shaking  the  dust  off  my  feet  at  every  step.  Hello  1 
here's  you  drinks  at  last,  Stilly.  I  had  foigotten  about  them, — an 
unusual  ♦'  ^ng  with  me, — That's  all  right,  boy ;  charge  it  tx)  room  518. 
— Ah  I  that  hits  the  spot  on  a  hot  day.  Well,  where  was  I?  Oh,  yes : 
at  Buffalo.  I  got  a  place  on  a  paper  here,  at  just  enough  to  keep  life 
in  me;  but  I  liked  the  work.  Then  I  drifted  to  Rochester  at  a  big- 
ger salar',  afterwards  to  Alimny  at  a  still  bigger  salary,  and  of  course 
Albany  is  only  a  few  houre  from  New  York,  and  that  is  where  all 
newspaper-men  ultimately  drift  to,  if  they  are  worth  t^heir  salt.  I  saw 
a  small  section  of  the  war  as  special  correspondent,  got  hurt,  and 
rounded  up  in  the  hospital.  Since  then,  although  only  a  reporter,  I 
am  about  the  top  of  the  tree  iu  that  line,  and  make  enough  money  to 
pay  my  poker  debts  and  purchase  iced  drinks  to  soothe  the  asperities  of 
the  game.  When  there  is  anything  big  going  on  anywhere  in  the 
country,  I  am  there,  with  other  fellows  to  do  the  drudgery,  I  writing 
up  the  picturesque  descriptions  and  interviewing  the  big  men.  My 
stuff  goes  red-hot  over  the  telegraph-wire,  and  the  humble  postage- 


■Nv,; 


fw 


m 


m 


'W  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


137 


dge.  Now  I'll 
more'a  academy 
in  I  lefl  I  tried 
D  the  education 
prejudices  the 

a  man  on  his 


physical  as  well 
to  me  that  his 
Mrning." 
lly. 

e  boys  at  their 
n  their  conduct 
'"e  got  up  a  rat- 
1 1  stood  rather 
natics  or  gram- 
and  having  the 
a  pretty  evenly 
lOon  we  b^an  a 
1  the  opposition 
st  of  it.  I  was 
lought  it  a  pity 
test.  The  bojrs 
were  happy  pic- 
afternoon." 
x)  iar,"  said  the 

hear  of  it.  So 
le  only  case  on 
's  departure.    I 

regretted  it.  I 
ry  step.  Hello  1 
ibout  them, — an 

it  t-o  room  518. 
'as  I?  Oh, yes: 
)Ugh  to  keep  life 
jhester  at  a  big- 
and  of  course 
lat  is  where  all 
leir  salt.  I  saw 
;,  got  hurt,  and 
lly  a  reporter,  I 
snough  money  to 
the  asperities  of 
mywhere  in  the 
dgery,  I  writing 

big  men.    My 
humble  postage- 


stamp  knows  ray  envelopes  no  u  ^re.  I  am  acquainted  with  every 
hotel  clerk  that  amounts  to  anything  from  New  York  to  Ban  Fran-o 
oisco.  If  I  could  save  money  I  should  be  rich',  for  I  make  plenty, 
but  the  hole  at  the  top  of  my  trousers-pocket  has  lost  me  a  lot  of  cash, 
and  I  don't  seem  to  be  able  to  get  it  mended.  Now  you've  listened 
with  your  customary  patience,  in  order  to  give  my  self-esteem,  as  you 
calle;^  it,  full  sway.  I  am  grateful.  I  will  reciprocate.  How  about 
yourself?" 

The  professor  spoke  slowly.  "  I  have  had  no  such  adventurous 
career,"  he  began.  "  I  have  not  shaken  Canadian  dust  from  my  feet, 
and  have  not  made  any  groiit  success.  I  have  simply  plodded,  and  am 
in  no  danger  of  becoming  rich,  although  I  suppose  I  spend  as  little  as 
any  man.    After  you  were  espel — after  you  left  the  aca " 

"  Don't  mutilate  the  good  old  English  language.  Stilly.  You  were 
right  in  the  first  place.  I  am  not  thin-skinned.  You  were  saying 
after  I  was  expelled.    Oo  on." 

"  I  thought  perhaps  it  might  be  a  sore  subject.  You  remember 
you  were  very  indignant  at  the  time,  and " 

"  Of  course  I  was, — and  am  still,  for  that  matter.  It  was  an 
outrage." 

"1  thought  it  was  proved  that  you  helped  to  put  the  pony  in  the 
Principal's  n)6m." 

"  Oh,  certainly.  Thaf..  Of  course.  But  what  I  detested  was  the 
way  the  Principal  worked  the  thing.  He  allowed  that  villain  Spink 
to  turn  evidence  against  us,  and  Spink  stated  I  originated  the  anair, 
whereas  I  could  claim  no  such  honor.  It  was  Spink's  own  project, 
which  I  fell  in  with,  as  I  did  with  every  disreputaole  thing  proposed. 
Of  course  the  Principal  believed  at  once  that  I  was  the  chief  criminal. 
Do  you  happen  to  know  if  Spink  has  been  hanged  yet?" 

"  I  believe  he  is  a  very  reputable  business-man  in  Montreal,  and 
much  respected." 

"  I  might  have  suspected  that.  Well,  you  keep  your  eye  on  the 
respected  Spink.  If  he  doesn't  &il  some  day  and  make  a  lot  of  money, 
I'in  a  Dutcnman.  But  go  on.  This  is  digression.  ~  By  the  way,  just 
push  that  electric  button.  You're  nearest,  and  it  is  too  hot  to  move. 
Thanks.    After  I  was  expelled ?" 

"  After  your  departure,  I  took  a  diploma,  and  for  a  year  or  two 
taught  a  class  in  the  academy.  Then,  as  I  studied  during  my  spare 
time,  I  got  a  chance  as  master  of  a  grammar-school  near  Toronto,  chiefly, 
as  I  think,  through  the  recommendation  of  Principal  Scragmore.  I 
had  my  di^ree  by  this  time.    Then " 

There  was  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door. 

"  Gome  in,"  snouted  Yates.  "  Oh,  it's  yoiu  Just  bring  up  another 
cooling  cobbler,  will  you,  and  charge  it  as  before  to  Professor  Kenmark, 
room  518. — Yes;  and  then ?" 

"And  then  there  came  the  opening  in  University  College,  To- 
ronto. I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  appointed.  There  I  am  still, 
and  there  I  suppose  I  shall  stay.  I  know  very  few  people,  and  am 
better  acquainted  vrith  books  than  with  men.  Those  whom  I  have 
the  privilege  of  knowing  are  mostly  studious  persons  who  have  made 


J3SC&:- 


f¥ 


Bm 


138 


'  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


or  will  make  their  mark  in  the  world  of  learning.  I  have  not  had 
your  advantage  of  meeting  statesmen  who  guide  the  destinies  of  a  great 
empire." 

"  No,  you  always  were  lucky,  Stilly.  My  experience  is  that  the 
chaps  who  do  the  guiding  are  more  anxious  about  their  own  pockets  or 
their  own  political  advancement  than  they  are  of  the  destinies.  Still, 
the  Empire  seems  to  take  its  course  westward  just  the  same.  So  old 
Soragmore's  been  your  friend,  has  he  ?" 

"  He  has,  indeed." 

**  Well,  he  insulted  me  only  the  other  day." 

"  You  astonish  me.  I  cannot  imagine  so  gentlemanly  and  scholarly 
a  man  as  Principal  Scragmore  insulting  anybody." 

"  Oh,  you  dou't  know  him  as  I  do.  It  was  like  this.  I  wanted  to 
find  out  where  you  were,  for  reasons  that  I  shall  state  hereafter.  I 
cudgelled  my  brains,  and  then  thought  of  old  Scrag.  I  wrote  him  and 
enclosed  a  stamped  and  addressed  env  lope,  as  all  unsought  contributors 
should  do.  He  answered— but  I  have  his  reply  somewhere.  You 
shall  read  it  for  yourself." 

Yates  pulled  from  his  inside  pocket  a  bundle  of  letters  which  he 
hurriedly  fingered  over,  commenting  in  a  low  voice  as  he  did  so,  "  I 
thought  I  answered  that.  Still,  no  matter.  Jingo !  haven't  I  paid  that 
bill  yet?  This  pass  is  run  out.  Must  get  another."  Then  he  smiled 
and  sighed  as  he  looked  at  a  letter  in  dainty  handwriting,  but  apparently 
he  could  not  find  the  document  he  sought. 

"  Oh,  well,  it  doesn't  matter.  I  have  it  somewhere.  He  returned 
me  the  prepaic'  envelope  and  reminded  me  that  United  States  stamps 
were  of  no  use  in  Canada,  which  of  course  I  should  have  remembered. 
But  he  didn't  pav  the  postage  on  his  own  letter,  so  that  I  had  to  'fork 
out  double.  Still,  I  don't  mind  that,  only  as  an  indication  of  his  mean- 
ness. He  went  on  to  say  that  of  all  the  members  of  our  class  you — 
you  ! — were  the  only  one  who  had  reflected  credit  on  it.  That  was  the 
insult.  The  idea  of  his  making  such  a  statement,  when  I  bad  told  him 
I  was  on  the  New  York  Argvs  !  Credit  to  the  class,  indeed  I  I  won- 
der if  he  ever  heard  of  Brown,  after  he  was  expelled.  You  know,  of 
coarse.  No?  Well,  Brown  bv  his  own  exertions  became  President 
of  the  Alum  Bank  in  New  York,  wrecked  it,  and  got  off  to  Canada 
with  a  clear  half-million.  Yea,  sir.  I  saw  him  in  Quebec  not  six 
months  ^o.  Keeps  the  finest  span  and  carriage  in  the  city,  and  lives 
in  a  palace.  Could  buy  out  old  Scragmore  a  thousand  times  and  never 
feel  it.  Most  liberal  contributor  to  the  cause  of  education  that  there 
is  in  Canada.  He  says  education  made  him,  and  he's  not  a  man  to  go 
back  on  education.  And  yet  Scragmore  has  the  cheek  to  say  that  y<m 
were  the  only  man  in  the  class  who  reflects  credit  on  it  I" 

The  professor  smiled  quietly,  as  the  excited  journalist  took  a  cooling 
sip  of  the  cobbler. 

"  You  see,  Yates,  people's  opinions  differ.  A  man  like  Brown  may 
not  be  Princijml  Soragmore's  ideal.  The  Principal  may  be  local  in  his 
ideals  of  a  successful  man  or  of  one  who  reflects  credit  on  his 
teaching." 

"  Local  ?    You  bet  he's  local.    Too  darned  lopal  for  me.    It  would 


■■fiiMiirtiiiliilTifiWifewa- 


f* 


te 


i. 


m^ 


jtmM 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


IS9 


have  not  had 
aies  of  a  great 

oe  is  that  the 
wn  pockets  or 
stinies.  Skill, 
same.    So  old 


and  scholarly 

I  wanted  to 

hereafter.     I 

vrotehim  and 

it  contributors 

where.     You 

tters  which  he 
he  did  so,  "  I 
in't  I  paid  that 
hen  he  smiled 
)Ut  apparently 

He  returned 

States  stamps 

3  rememberer. 

I  had  to  'fork 

a  of  his  mean- 

iir  class  you — 

That  was  the 
'.  bad  told  him 
eed  I  I  won- 
STou  know,  of 
ime  President 
off  to  Canada 
tuebeo  not  six 
city,  and  lives 
ues  and  never 
lion  that  there 
>t  a  man  to  go 
o  say  that  you 

took  a  cooling 

ce  Brown  may 
be  local  in  his 
credit  on  his 

ne.    It  would 


do  that  man  good  to  live  in  New  York  for  a  year.    But  I'm  going  to 
get  even  with  him.    I'm  — —    '        •■    •  • 


umn  and  a  half,  see  if  I 
newspaper  portrait  of  him. 


wng  to  write  him  up.    I'll  give  him  a  col- 
lon't    I'll  get  his  photograph  and  publish  a 
^  .       .  1.    If  that  doesn't  make  him  quake  he's  a 

c&st-iron  man.    Say,  you  haven't  a  photograph  of  old  Scrag  that  you 
can  lend  me,  have  you  ?" 

"  I  have,  but  I  won't  lend  it  for  such  a  purpose.  However,  never 
mind  the  Principal.  Tell  me  your  plans.  I  am  at  your  disposal  for  a 
oouple  of  weeks,  or  longer  if  necessary." 

«  Good  boy  I  Well,  I'll  tell  you  how  it  is.  I  want  rest  and  Auiet 
and  the  woods  for  a  week  or  two.  This  is  how  it  happened.  I  havi 
been  steadily  at  the  grindstone,  except  for  a  while  in  the  hospital,  an  J 
that,  you  will  admit,  is  not  much  of  a  vacation.  The  work  interestj 
me,  and  I  am  always  in  the  thick  of  it.  Now,  it's  like  this  in  the 
newspaper-business ;  your  chief  is  never  the  person  to  suggest  that  you 
take  a  vacation.  He  is  usually  short  of  men  and  long  on  things  to  do, 
so  if  you  don't  worry  him  into  letting  you  off  he  won't  lose  any  sleep 
over  it  He's  content  to  let  well  enough  alone  every  time.  Then  there 
is  always  somebody  who  wants  to  get  away  on  pressing  business, — 
grandmother's  funeral,  and  that  sort  of  thing,— so  if  a  fellow  is  content 
to  work  right  along  his  chief  is  quite  content  to  let  him.  Thafs  the 
way  affairs  have  gone  for  years  with  me.  The  other  week  I  w«nt  over 
to  Washington  to  interview  a  Senator  on  the  political  prospectei.  I  tell 
you  what  it  is.  Stilly,  without  bragging,  there  are  some  big  m«n  in  the 
States  whom  no  one  but  me  can  interview.  And  yet  old  Scrag  says 
I'm  no  credit  to  his  class  I  Why,  last  year  my  political  predictions 
were  telegraphed  all  over  this  country,  end  have  since  appeared  in  the 
European  press.  No  credit  I  By  Jove,  I  would  like  to  have  old  Scrag 
in  a  twenty-four-foot  ring  with  thin  gloves  on  for  about  ten  minutes  I" 
"  I  doubt  if  he  would  shine  under  those  circumstances.  But  never 
mind  him.  He  spoke,  for  once,  without  due  reflection,  and  with  per- 
haps an  exaggerated  remembrance  of  your  school-day  offences.  What 
happened  when  you  went  to  Washington  ?" 

"A  strange  thing  happened.  When  I  was  admitted  to  the  Sen- 
ator's library  I  saw  another  fellow,  whom  I  thought  I  knew,  sitting 
there.  I  said  i,o  the  Senator,  *I  will  oume  when  you  are  alone.'  The 
Senator  looked  up  in  surprise,  and  said,  *  I  am  alone.'  I  didn't  say 
anything,  but  went  on  with  my  interview,  and  the  other  fellow  took 
notes  all  the  time.  I  didn't  like  this,  but  said  nothing,  for  the  Senator 
is  not  a  man  to  offend,  and  it  is  W  not  offending  the»  fellows  that  I 
can  get  the  information  I  do.  Well,  the  other  fellow  came  out  with 
me,  and  as  I  looked  at  him  I  saw  that  he  wi»  myself.  This  did  not 
strike  me  as  strange  at  the  time,  but  I  argued  with  him  all  the  way  to 
New  York  and  tried  to  show  him  that  he  wasn't  treating  me  fairly. 
I  wrote  up  the  interview  with  the  other  fellow  interfering  all  the 
while,  so  I  compromised,  and  half  the  time  put  iu  what  he  su^ested 
and  half  the  time  what  I  wanted  in  myself.  When  the  political  editor 
went  over  the  stuff  he  looked  alarmed.  I  told  him  frankly  just  how 
I  had  hem  interfered  with,  and  he  looked  none  the  less  alarmed  when 
I  had  finished.    He  sent  at  once  for  a  doctor.    The  dotiUit  metaphor' 


"n^ 


■ 


mm 


«p-*-^.. 


140 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


ft'^a 


ically  took  me  apart,  and  then  eaid  to  my  ohief, '  This  man  is  simply 
worked  to  death.  He  must  have  a  vacation,  and  a  real  one,  with 
absolutely  nothing  to  think  of,  or  he  is  going  to  ao  to  pieces,  and  that 
with  a  suddenness  that  will  surprise  everybody?  The  chief,  to  my 
astonishment,  consented  without  a  murmur,  and  even  upbraided  me 
for  not  going  away  sooner.  Then  the  doctor  said  to  me, '  You  get 
some  companion, — some  man  with  no  brains,  if  possible,  who  will  not 
discuss  politics,  who  has  no  opinion  on  anything  that  any  stne  man 
would  care  to  talk  about,  and  who  couldn't  say  a  bright  thing  if  he 
tried  for  a  year.  Qet  such  a  man  to  go  off  to  the  woods  somewhere. 
Up  in  Maine  or  in  Canada.  As  far  away  from  post-oflBces  and  tele- 
graph-offices as  possible.  And,  by  the  way,  don't  leave  your  address 
at  the  Argvs  office.'  Thus  it  happened,  Stilly,  when  he  described  this 
man  so  graphically,  I  at  once  thought  of  you." 

"  I  am  deeply  gratified,  I  am  sure,"  said  the  professor,  with  the 
ghost  of  a  smile, "  to  be  so  promptly  remembered  in  such  a  connection, 
and  if  I  can  be  of  service  to  you  I  shall  be  very  glad.  I  take  it,  then, 
that  you  have  no  intention  of  stopping  in  fiumilo  ?" 

"  You  bet  I  haven't.  I'm  in  for  uii  '  )rest  primeval,  the  murmur- 
ing pines  and  the  hemlock,  bearded  with  moss  and  green  in  the  some- 
thmg  or  other — I  forget  the  rest.  I  want  to  quit  lying  on  paper  and 
lie  on  my  back  instead,  on  the  sward  or  in  a  hammock.  I'm  going  to 
avoid  all  boarding-houses  or  delightful  summer  resorts  and  go  in  for 
the  quiet  of  the  forest." 

"  There  ought  to  be  some  nice  places  along  the  lake  shore." 

"No,  sir.  No  lake  shore  for  me.  It  would  remind  me  of  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  when  it  was  calm,  and  of  Long  Branch  when  it 
was  rough.  No,  sir.  The  woods,  the  woods,  and  tlie  woods.  I  have 
hired  a  tent  and  a  lot  of  cooking-things.  I'm  going  to  take  that  tent 
over  to  Canada  to-morrow,  and  then  I  propose  we  engage  a  man  with  a 
team  to  cart  it  somewhere  into  the  woods,  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  away. 
We  shall  have  to  be  near  a  farm-house,  so  that  we  can  get  fresh  butter, 
milk,  and  eggs.  This,  of  course,  is  a  disadvantage ;  but  I  shall  try 
to  get  near  some  one  who  has  never  even  heard  of  New  York." 

"  You  may  find  that  somewhat  difficult." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  I  have  great  hopes  of  the  lack  of  intelligence 
in  the  Canadians." 

**  Often  the  narrowest,"  said  the  professor,  slowly,  "  are  those  who 
think  themselves  the  most  cosmopolitan." 

"  Right  you  are !"  cried  Yates,  skimming  lightly  over  the  remark 
and  seeing  nothing  applicable  to  his  case  in  it,  "Well,  I've  laid 
in  about  naif  a  ton,  more  or  less,  of  tobacco,  and  have  bought  an 
empty  jug." 

"An  empty  one?" 

"  Yes.  Among  the  few  things  worth  having  that  the  Canadians 
possess,  is  good  whiskey.  Besides,  the  empty  jug  will  save  trouble  at 
the  custom-house.  I  don't  suppose  Canadian  rye  is  as  good  as  the 
Kentucky  article,  but  you  and  1  will  have  to  scrub  along  on  it  for  a 
while.    And  talking  of  jugs,  just  press  the  button  once  again." 

The  professor  did  so,  saying,' — 


III  in  III 


'*■ 


man  is  simply 
real  one,  with 
ieces,  and  that 
5  chief,  to  my 
upbraided  me 

me, '  You  get 
,  who  will  not 
any  stne  man 
ht  thing  if  he 
ds  somewhere. 
Gees  and  tele- 

vour  address 
described  this 

ssor,  with  the 
I  a  connection, 
[  take  it,  then, 

,  the  murmur- 

a  in  the  some- 

on  paper  and 

I'm  going  to 

and  go  in  for 

hore." 

nd  me  of  the 
ranch  when  it 
oods.  I  have 
take  that  tent 
a  man  with  a 
ty  miles  away. 
i  fresh  butter, 
It  I  shall  try 
York." 

of  intelligence 

are  those  who 

er  the  remark 
Tell,  I've  laid 
ve  bought  an 


;he  Canadians 
lave  trouble  at 
8  good  as  the 
>ng  on  it  for  a 
igain." 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


141 


"  The  doctor  made  no  remark,  I  suppose,  about  drinking  less  or 
smoking  less,  did  he  ?" 

"  In  my  case  ?  Well,  come  to  think  of  it,  there  vxu  some  conver- 
sation in  that  direction.  Don't  remember  at  the  moment  just  what  it 
amounted  to ;  but  all  physicians  have  tb<p'  little  fads,  you  know.  It 
doesn't  do  to  humor  them  too  much. — Ah,  boy,  there  you  are  again. 
Well,  the  professor  wants  another  drink.  Make  it  a  gin  fiz  this  time, 
and  put  plenty  of  ice  in  it ;  but  don't  neglect  the  gin  on  that  aooount. 
Certainly :  cbiarge  it  to  room  518." 


CHAPTER  III. 


"  What's  all  this  tackle?"  asked  the  burly  and  somewhat  red-faced 
customs-officer  at  Fort  Erie. 

"  This,"  said  Yates,  "  js  a  tent,  with  the  poles  and  pegs  appertain- 
ing thereto.  These  are  a  number  of  packages  of  tobacco,  on  which  I 
shall  doubtless  have  to  pay  something  mto  the  ezofaequer  of  Her  Maj- 
esty. This  is  ajar  used  for  the  holding  of  liquids.  1  beg  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fitct  that  it  is  at  present  empty,  which  unfortunately 
prevents  me  making  a  libation  to  the  rites  of  good-fellowship.  What 
my  friend  has  in  tnat  valise  I  don't  know,  but  I  suspect  a  gambling- 
outfit,  and  would  advise  vou  to  search  him." 

*'  My  valise  contains  books  principally,  with  some  articles  of  wear- 
ing-apparel," said  the  profespoir,  openmg  his  grip. 

The  customs-officer  looked  with  suspicion  on  the  whole  outfit,  and 
evidently  did  not  like  the  tone  of  the  American.  Ho  seemed  to  be 
treating  the  customs  department  in  a  light  and  airy  manner,  and  the 
officer  was  too  much  impressed  by  the  dignity  of  his  position  not  to 
resent  flippancy.  Besides,  there  were  rumors  of  Fenian  invasion  in 
the  air,  and  the  officer  resolved  that  no  Fenian  should  get  into  the 
country  without  paying  duty. 

"  Where  are  yoh  going  with  this  tent  ?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know.  Perhaps  you  can  tell  as.  I  don't  know 
the  country  about  here.  Say,  Stilly,  I'm  off  up-town  to  attend  to  this 
jug.  I've  been  empty  too  often  myself  not  to  sympathize  with  its 
condition.  You  wrestle  this  matter  out  about  the  tent.  You  know 
the  ways  of  the  country,  whereas  I  don't." 

It  was  perhaps  as  well  that  Yates  left  n^otiations  in  the  hands  of 
his  friend.  He  was  quick  enough  to  see  that  he  made  no  headway 
with  the  officer,  but  rather  the  opposite.  He  slung  the  jug  ostenta- 
tiously over  his  shoulder,  to  the  evident  discomfort  of  the  professor, 
and  marched  up  the  hill  to  the  nearest  tavern,  whistling  one  of  the 
lately  popular  war-tunes. 

"  Now,"  he  said  to  the  bar-keeper,  placing  the  jug  tenderly  on  the 
bar,  "  fill  that  up  to  the  nozssle  with  the  best  rye  you  ha^'e.  Fill  it 
with  the  old  familiar  iuice,  as  the  late  poet  Omar  saith." 

The  bar-tender  dia  as  he  was  requested. 

"  Can  you  disguise  a  little  of  that  fl'iid  in  any  way  so  that  it  may 
be  taken  internally  without  a  man  suspecting  what  he  is  swaUowiug?" 


■■f  # 


faymmmmt^mmmMtrntumm 


142 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


The  bar-keeper  smiled.    "  How  would  a  cocktail  fill  the  vacancy  ?" 

"  I  can  suggest  nothing  better,"  replied  YateB.  "  If  you  are  sure 
you  know  how  to  make  it. 

The  man  did  not  resent  this  imputation  of  ignorance.  He  merely 
said,  with  the  air  of  ono  who  gives  an  incontrovertible  answer, — 

"  I  am  a  Kentucky  man,  myself." 

"Shake,"  cried  Yates,  briefly,  as  he  reached  his  hand  across  the 
bar.     "  How  is  it  you  happen  to  be  here  ?" 

"  Well,  I  Kot  into  a  little  trouble  in  Louisville,  and  here  I  am  where 
I  can  at  least  look  at  Gkxl's  country." 

'♦  Hold  on,"  protested  Yates.     "  You're  making  only  one  cocktail." 

"  Didn't  you  say  one?"  asked  the  man.  pausing  in  the  compound- 
ing. 

"  Bless  you,  I  never  saw  one  cocktail  made  in  my  life.  You  are 
with  me  on  this." 

"Just  as  you  say,"  replied  the  other,  as  he  prepared  enough  for 
two. 

"Now,  I'll  tell  you  my  fix,"  said  Yates,  confidentially.  "I've 
got  a  tent  and  some  camp  things  down  below  at  the  custom-house 
shanty,  and^  I  want  to  get  them  taken  into  the  woods  whe'  e  I  can 
camp  out  with  a  friend.  I  want  a  plaoe  where  we  can  have  absolute 
rest  and  quiet.  Do  you  know  the  country  round  here  ?  Perhaps  you 
could  recommt  nd  a  spot." 

"  Well,  for  all  the  time  I've  been  here  I  know  precious  little  about 
the  back  country.  I've  been  down  the  road  to  the  Falls,  but  never 
back  in  the  woods.  I  suppose  you  want  some  place  by  the  lake  or  the 
river?" 

"No,  I  don't 
is  a  forest." 

"  Well,  there's  a  man  in  to-day  from  somewhere  near  Ridgeway,  I 
think.  He's  got  a  hay-rack  with  him,  and  that  would  be  just  the 
thing  to  take  your  tent  and  poles.  Wouldn't  be  ver>  comfortable 
travelling  for  you,  but  it  would  be  all  right  for  ihe  tent,  if  it's  a  big 
one." 

"  That  will  suit  us  exactly.  We  don't  care  a  cent  about  the  com- 
fort.   Roughing  it  is  what  we  came  for.     Where  will  I  find  him  ?" 

"Oh,  he'll  be  along  here  soon.  That's  his  team  tied  there  on 
the  side-street.      If  he  happens  to  be  in  good  humor  he'll  take  your 


I  want  to  get  dear  back  into  the  forest, — if  there 


you  couldn't  tote  out  some  of  his  belongings.  He's  going  out  your 
way." 

Bartlett  was  a  somewhf^t  uncouth  and  wiry  specimen  of  the  Cana- 
dian farmer,  who  evidently  paid  little  attention  to  the  subject  of  dress. 
He  said  nothing,  but  looked  in  a  lowering  way  at  Yates  with  some- 
thing of  contempt  and  suspicion  in  his  glance. 

Yates  had  one  receipt  for  making  the  acquaintance  of  all  mankind. 
"  Come  in,  Mr.  Bartlett,"  he  said,  cheerily,  "  and  try  one  of  my  friend's 
excellent  cocktails." 


ill  the  vacancy  ?" 
If  yoa  are  sure 

noe.  He  merely 
8  answer, — 

hand  acsroBB  the 

here  I  am  where 

sly  otie  cocktail." 
1  the  compound- 

y  life.     You  are 

lared  enough  for 

lentially.  "  I've 
he  custom-houae 
)d8  whe'  e  I  can 
m  have  absolute 
!  ?    Perhaps  you 

cious  little  about 
Falls,  but  never 
y  the  lake  or  the 

forest, — if  there 

ear  Ridgeway,  I 
raid  be  just  the 
rer)  comfortable 
tent,  if  it's  a  big 

t  about  the  com- 
I  find  him?" 
ta  tied  there  oa 
r  he'll  take  your 
ip  in  his  woods, 
d  Nick  himselfl 
u  wondering  if 
)  going  out  your 

ten  of  the  Cana- 
subject  of  dress, 
["ates  with  some- 

of  all  mankind, 
ae  of  my  friend's 


IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


143 


"I  take  mine  straight,"  growled  Burtlett,  gruffly,  although  he 
stepped  inside  the  open  door.  **  I  don't  want  no  Yankee  mixture  in 
mine.  Plain  whiskey's  good  enough  for  any  man,  if  he  is  a  man.  I 
don't  take  no  water,  neither.    I've  got  trouble  enough." 

The  bar-tender  winked  at  Yates  as  he  shoved  the  decanter  over  to 
the  new-comer. 

"  Right  you  are,"  assented  Yates,  cordially. 

The  farmer  did  not  thaw  out  in  the  least  because  of  this  prompt 
agreement  with  him,  but  sipped  his  whiskey  gloomily,  as  if  it  were  a 
most  dist^eeable  medicine. 

"  What  did  you  want  me  to  take  out  ?"  he  said  at  last. 

"  A  friend  and  a  tent,  a  jug  of  whiskey,  and  a  lot  of  jolly  good 
tobaooo." 

"  How  much  are  you  willing  to  pay  ?" 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  I'm  always  willing  to  do  what's  right.  How 
would  five  dollars  strike  you  ?" 

The  farmer  scowled  and  shook  his  head. 

"  Too  much,"  he  said,  as  Yates  was  about  to  offer  more.  "  'Tain't 
worth  it.  Two-and-a-half  would  be  about  tlie  right  figure.  Don'no 
but  that's  too  much.  I'll  think  on  it  going  home  and  charge  you 
what  it's  worth.  I'll  be  ready  to  leave  in  about  ac  hour,  if  that 
suits  you.  That's  my  team  on  the  other  side  of  the  road.  If  it's 
gone  when  you  come  back  I'm  gone,  an'  you'll  have  to  get  somebody 
else." 

With  this  Bartlett  drew  his  ooat-sleeve  across  his  mouth  and  de- 
parted. 

"  That's  him  exactly,"  said  the  bar-keeper.  "  He's  the  most  can- 
tankerous crank  in  the  township.  And  say,  let  me  give  you  a  pointer. 
If  the  subject  of  1812  oomes  up, — the  war,  you  know, — ^you'a  better 
admit  that  we  got  thrashed  out  of  our  boots ;  that  b,  if  you  want  to 
get  along  with  Hiram.    He  hates  Yankees  like  poison." 

"And  did  we  get  thrashed  in  1812?''  asked  Yates,  who  was  more 
familiar  with  current  topics  than  with  the  history  of  the  past. 

"  Blest  if  I  know.  Hiram  says  we  did.  I  told  him  once  that  we 
got  what  we  wanted  from  old  England,  and  he  nearly  hauled  me  over 
the  bar.  So  I  give  you  the  warning,  if  you  want  to  get  along  with 
him." 

"  Thank  you.     I'll  remember  it.    So  long." 

This  friendly  hint  from  the  man  in  the  tavern  offers  a  key  to  the 
solution-of  the  problem  of  Yates's  success  on  the  New  York  press.  He 
could  get  news  when  no  other  man  could.  Flippant  and  shallow  as  he 
undoubtedly  wasj  he  somehow  got  into  the  inner  confidences  of  all 
sorts  of  men  in  a  way  that  made  them  give  him  an  inkling  of  anything 
that  was  going  on  for  the  mere  love  of  him,  atfd  Yates  onen  got  valu- 
able assistance  from  his  acquaintances  which  other  reporters  could  not 
get  for  money. 

The  New-Yorker  found  th>  professor  sitting  on  a  bench  by  the 
custom-house^  chatting  with  the  officer,  and  gazing  at  the  rapidly- 
flowing  broad  blue  river  in  front  of  them. 

^  I  have  got  a  man,"  said  Yates,  "  who  will  take  us  out  into  the 


SBEni 


■f  »'- 


MMM 


^ 


II 


/ 1 


"m  THE  MIDST  OF  AT  "I  MS." 

wildernesa  in  about  an  hour's  time.  Suppose  we  explore  the  town.  I 
expect  'lobody  will  run  away  with  the  tent  till  we  come  bavk." 

"  I'll  look  after  that/'  said  the  officer;  and,  thanking  him,  the  two 
friends  strolled  up  the  street.  Thev  were  a  trifle  late  in  getting  baok, 
and  when  they  reached  the  tavern  they  found  Bartlett  just  on  the  point 
of  driving  home.  He  gruffly  consented  to  take  them  if  they  did  not 
keep  him  more  than  five  minutes  loading  up.  The  tent  and  appurte- 
nances were  s|)eedily  loaded  on  the  hay-rack,  and  then  BartleU  drove 
up  to  the  tavera  and  waited,  saying  nothing,  although  he  had  been  in 
such  a  hurry  a  few  moments  before.  Yates  did  not  like  to  ask  the 
cause  of  the  delay  :  so  the  three  sat  there  silently.  Afler  a  while  Yates 
said,  as  mildly  an  he  could, — 

"  Are  yon  waiting  for  any  one,  Mr.  Bartlett?" 

"  Yes,  answered  the  driver,  in  a  surly  tone.  "  I'm  waiting  for  you 
to  go  in  fur  that  jug.  I  don't  suppose  you  filled  it  to  leave  it  on  thi 
counter." 

"  By  Jove  I"  cried  Yates,  sprinjring  ofiP,  "  I  had  forgotten  all  about 
it,  which  shows  the  extraordinary  effect  this  country  has  on  me  already." 
The  professor  frowned,  but  Yates  came  out  merrily  with  the  jug  in 
his  hand,  and  Bartlett  swrted  his  team.  They  drove  out  of  the  village 
and  up  a  slight  hill,  going  for  a  mile  or  two  along  a  straight  and  some- 
what sandy  road.  Tnen  th  y  turned  to  what  &rtlett  said  in  answer 
to  a  question  by  the  professes  was  the  Bidge  Road,  and  there  was  no 
need  to  ask  why  it  was  so  termed.  It  was  a  good  highway,  but  rather 
fltony,  the  road  being,  in  places,  on  the  bare  rock.  It  paid  not  the 
lightest  attention  to  Euclid's  definition  of  a  straight  line,  and  in  this 
respect  was  rather  a  welcome  change  from  the  average  American  road. 
Sometimes  they  passed  along  avenues  of  overbranching  trees,  which  were 
evidently  relics  of  the  forest  that  once  covered  all  the  district.  The 
road  followed  the  ridge,  and  on  each  side  were  frequently  to  he  seen 
wide  vistas  of  lower-lying  country.  All  along  the  road  were  com- 
fortablv;  farm-houses ;  ana  it  was  evident  that  a  prosperous  community 
flourished  along  the  ridge. 

Bartlett  spoke  only  once,  and  then  to  the  profeseor,  who  sat  next 
to  him. 

"You  a  Canadian?" 

t(  Yes." 

"  Where's  Ae  from?" 

"  My  friend  is  from  New  York,"  answered  the  innocent  professor. 

"Humph!"  grunted  Bartlett,  scowling  deeper  than  ever,  after 
which  he  became  silent  again.  The  team  was  not  going  very  fast,  al- 
though neither  the  load  nor  the  roads  were  heavy.  Bartlett  was  mut- 
tering a  good  deal  to  himself,  and  now  and  then  brought  down  his 
whip  savagely  on  one  or  the  other  of  the  horses,  but  the  moment  the 
unfortunate  animals  quickened  their  pace  he  hauled  them  in  roughly. 
Nevertheless  they  were  going  quickly  enough  to  be  overtaking  a  youdg 
woman  who  was  walking  on  alone.  Although  she  must  have  heard 
them  coming  over  the  rocky  rdad,  she  did  not  turn  her  head,  but 
walked  along  with  the  free  and  springy  step  of  one  who  is  not  only 
accustomed  to  walking,  but  who  likes  it.    Bartlett  paid  no  attention  to 


te 


^ 


m 


imtMM 


i  the  town.    I 
back." 

i;  him,  the  two 
I  getting  back, 
it  on  the  point 
f  they  did  not 
t  and  appurte- 
Bartle^t  drove 
le  had  been  in 
ke  to  ask  the 
a  while  Yates 


raiting  for  yon 
leave  it  on  thj 

otten  all  about 
n  me  already." 
ith  the  jug  in 
b  of  the  village 
ght  and  some- 
said  in  answer 
I  there  was  no 
my,  but  rather 
:  paid  not  the 
ne,  and  in  this 
Lmerican  ixmd. 
es,  which  were 
district.  The 
Uy  to  be  seen 
were  com- 
us  community 

,  who  sat  next 


cent  professor, 
in  ever,  after 
;  very  fast,  al- 
tlett  was  mut- 
ight  down  his 
te  moment  the 
m  in  roughly, 
iking  a  youiig 
3t  have  heard 
her  head,  but 
10  is  not  only 
lo  attention  to 


"IS  THE  MID^T  OF  ALARMS.' 


the  girl ;  the  profossor  was  endeavoring  tr  read  his  thin  book  as  well  M 
a  man  might  who  is  being  jolted  frequently  ;  but  Yates,  as  soon  as  he 
reoogniced  that  the  pedestrian  was  young,  rulled  up  his  collar,  adjusted 
|hi8  necktie  with  care,  and  placed  his  hat  m  a  somewhat  more  jaunty 
and  fetching  position. 

"  Are  you  going  to  offer  that  girl  a  ride  ?"  he  said  to  Bartlett. 

"  No,  I'm  not." 

"  I  think  that  u  rather  uncivil,"  he  added,  forgetting  the  warning 
he  had  had. 

"  You  do,  eh?    Well,  yon  offer  her  a  ride.    You  hired  the  team." 

"  By  Jove,  I  will,"  said  Yates,  placing  his  hand  on  the  outside  of 
the  rack  and  springing  lightly  to  the  groun 

"  Likely  thing,"  growled  Bartlett  to  the  professor,  "  that  she's  going 
to  ride  with  the  like  of  him." 

The  professor  looked  for  a  moment  at  Yates  politely  taking  off  his 
hat  to  the  apparently  astonished  young  woman,  but  he  said  nothing. 

"  Fur  two  cents,"  continued  Bartlett,  gathering  up  the  reins,  "  I'd 
whip  up  the  hoi'ses  and  let  him  walk  the  rest  of  the  way." 

"  From  what  I  know  of  my  friend,"  answered  the  professor,  slowly, 
"  I  think  he  would  not  object  in  the  slightest." 

Bartlett  muttered  son  <ithing  to  himself,  and  seemed  to  change  his 
mind  about  galloping  his  horses. 

Meanwhile,  Yates,  as  has  l)een  said,  took  off  his  hat  with  great 
politeness  f"^  the  fair  pedestrian,  and  as  he  did  so  he  notice<l  with  a  thrill 
of  admiration  that  she  was  very  handsome.  Yates  always  had  an  eye 
for  the  beautiful. 

"  Our  conveyauoe,"  he  began,  "  is  not  as  comfortable  as  it  might  be, 
yet  I  shall  be  very  happy  if    ju  will  accept  its  hospitalities." 

The  young  woman  flashed  a  brief  elance  at  him  from  her  dark  eyes, 
and  for  a  moment  Yates  feared  that  his  language  had  been  rather  too 
choice  for  her  rural  understanding,  but  before  he  oould  amen<^.  his  phrase 
she  answered,  briefly, — 

"  Thank  you.    1  prefer  to  walk." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  that  I  blame  you.  Might  I  ask  if  yor  have 
come  all  the  way  from  the  village  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  That  is  a  long  distance,  and  vou  must  be  very  tired."  There  was 
no  reply  :  so  Yates  continued,  "  At  least  I  thought  it  a  long  distance ; 
but  perhaps  that  was  because  I  was  riding  on  Bartlett's  hay-raok.  There 
is  no  '  downy  bed  of  ease'  about  his  vehicle." 

As  he  spoke  of  the  wagon  he  looked  at  it,  and,  striding  forward  to 
its  side,  said  in  a  husky  whisper  to  the  professor, — 

"  Say,  Stilly,  cover  up  that  jug  with  a  flap  of  the  tent." 

"  Cover  it  up  yourself,"  briefly  replied  thS  other ;  "  it  isn't  mine." 

Yates  reached  across  and  in  a  sort  of  accidental  way  threw  the  flap 
of  the  tent  over  the  too  conspicuous  jar.  As  an  excuse  for  his  action 
he  took  up  his  walking-cane  and  turned  towards  his  new  acquaintance. 
He  was  flattered  to  see  that  she  was  loitering  some  distance  behind  the 
wagon,  and  ho  speedily  rejoined  her.  The  girl,  looking  straight  ahead, 
now  quickened  her  pace,  and  rapidly  shortened  the  distance  between 

Vox,   TJT— 10 


idfmp^^ 


i^jM 


Me 


•'/JT  THE  MIDST  OK  ALARMS." 


heraelf  and  the  vehiole.  Ynten,  with  the  qnioknesH  oharacteristio  of  him, 
made  up  \\'\»  mind  that  thiH  \va8  a  catte  of  country  diffideiioe  which  waa 
best  to  be  met  by  the  bringing  down  of  his  oonversaliou  to  tiie  level 
of  his  hearer's  intelligenoe. 

"  Have  you  been  marketing  ?"  he  asked. 
"Yes." 

"  Butter  and  eggs,  and  that  nort  of  thing?" 

"  We  are  farmer.},"  she  answered,  "  and  we  sell  butter  and  egga" — 
a  pause — "  and  that  sort  of  thing." 

Yates  laughed  in  his  light  and  cheery  way.  As  he  twirled  his  cane 
he  lookeil  at  his  pretty  companion.  She  was  gazing  anxiously  ahead 
towards  a  turn  iu  the  road.  Her  comely  face  wis  slightly  flushed, 
doubtless  with  the  exercise  of  walking. 

"  Now,  in  my  country,"  continued  the  New-Yorker,  "  we  idolize 
our  women.  Pretty  girls  don't  tramp  miles  to  market  with  butter 
and  eggs." 

"  Aren't  the  girls  pretty — in  your  country  ?" 
Yates  made  a  mental  note  that  there  was  not  as  much  rurality 
about  this  girl  as  he  had  thought  at  first.  There  was  a  piquancy 
about  the  conversation  which  he  liked.  That  she  shared  his  enjoyment 
was  doubtful,  for  a  slight  line  of  resentment  was  noticeable  on  her 
smooth  brow. 

"  You  bet  they're  pretty.  I  think  all  American  girls  are  pretty. 
I^  seems  their  birthright.  When  I  say  American  I  mean  the  whole 
,«ntinent,  of  course.  I'm  from  the  States  myself, — from  New  York." 
He  gave  an  extra  twirl  to  his  cane  as  he  said  this,  and  bore  himself 
with  that  air  of  conscious  superiority  which  naturally  rsrtains  to  a 
citizen  of  the  metropolis.  "  But  over  in  the  States  we  tliink  the  men 
should  do  all  the  work  and  that  the  women  should — well,  spend  the 
money.  I  must  do  our  ladies  the  justice  to  say  that  they  attend  strictly 
to  their  share  of  the  arrangement. 

'*  It  chould  be  a  delightful  country  to  live  in,  for  the  women." 
"  They  all  say  so.     We  used  to  have  an  adage  to  the  effect  that 
America  was  Paradise  for  women,  purgatory  for  men,  and — well,  an 
entirely  different  sort  of  place  for  oxen." 

There  was  no  doubt  that  Yates  had  a  way  of  getting  along  with 
people.  As  he  looked  at  bis  companion  he  was  gratified  to  note  just 
the  faintest  suspicion  of  a  smile  hovering  about  her  lips.  Before  she 
could  answer,  if  she  had  intended  to  do  so,  there  was  a  quick  clatter 
of  hoofs  on  the  hard  road  ahead,  and  next  instant  an  elegant  buggy, 
whose  slender  jet-blaok  polished  spokes  flashed  and  twinkled  in  the 
sunlight,  came  dashing  past  the  wagon.  On  seeing  the  two  walking 
together  the  driver  hauled  up  his  team  with  a  suddenness  that  was 
evidently  not  relished  by  the  spirited  dappled  span  he  drove. 

"  Hello,  Margaret,"  he  cried ;  "  am  I  late  ?  Have  you  walked  in 
all  the  way?" 

"  You  are  just  in  good  time,"  answered  the  girl,  without  looking 
towards  Yates,  who  stood  aimlessly  twirling  his  cane.  The  young 
woman  put  her  foot  on  the  buggy  step  and  sprang  lightly  in  bes'de  the 
driver.     It  needed  no  second  glance  to  see  that  he  was  her  brother,  not 


^^taatf^iiMk 


"/jr  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


147 


eristic  of  him, 
•oe  which  was 
>n  to  the  level 


r  ami  egg«" — 

rirled  his  cane 
xiously  ahead 
^htly  flushed, 


,  **  we  idolize 
It  with  batter 


nuch  rural  ity 
s  a  piquancy 
his  enjoyment 
seable  on  her 

rls  are  pretty, 
ean  the  whole 
i  New  York." 
bore  himself 
rsrtaina  to  a 
fiink  the  men 
ell,  spend  the 
attend  strictly 

women." 
the  effect  that 
ind — well,  an 

K  along  with 

d  to  note  just 

Before  she 

quick  clatter 
legant  buggy, 
inkled  in  the 

two  walking 
less  that  was 
►ve. 
ou  walked  in 

hout  looking 

The  young 

in  bes'de  the 

r  brother,  not 


only  on  aooount  of  the  family  resemblance  between  them,  but  also  be- 
cause he  allowed  her  to  get  into  the  buray  without  oflbring  the  3li<^htMt 
assistance,  which,  in(I»>ea,  was  not  needea,  and  gradouuly  perroiited  her 
to  place  the  duster  that  covered  his  knees  over  her  own  lap  as  well. 
The  restive  team  trotted  rspidlv  down  the  rcMid  for  a  few  rods  until 
they  oame  to  u  wide  place  in  the  highway,  and  then  whir'.'xi  around 
seemingly  within  an  aoe  of  upsetting  the  buggv,  but  the  young  man 
evidently  knew  his  businees  and  held  them  in  with  a  Arm  hand.  The 
wagon  was  jogging  along  where  the  road  was  very  narrow,  and  Bart- 
lett  kept  hiH  team  stolidly  in  the  centre  of  the  way. 

"  Hello  there,  Bartlett,"  shouted  the  young  man  in  the  buggy ; 
"  half  the  road,  you  know, — half  the  road." 

"  Take  it,"  cried  Bartlett  over  his  shoulder. 

"  Come,  come,  Bartlett,  get  out  of  the  way,  or  I'll  run  you  down." 

"  You  just  try  it"  Bartlett  either  had  no  sense  of  humor  or  his 
resentment  against  his  young  neighbor  smothered  it,  since  otherwise  he 
would  have  recognized  that  a  heavy  wagon  was  in  no  danger  of  being 
run  into  by  a  light  and  expensive  buggy.  The  young  man  kept  his 
temper  admirably,  but  he  knew  just  where  to  touch  the  elder  on  the 
raw.  His  sister's  hand  was  plaoea  appealingly  on  his  arm.  He  smiled, 
and  took  no  notice  of  her. 

"  Come,  now,  you  move  out,  or  I'll  have  the  law  on  you." 

«  The  law  !"  raged  Bartlett :  "  you  just  try  it  on." 

"  Should  think  you'd  had  enough  of  it  by  this  time." 

"  Oh,  don't,  don't,  Henry  I"  protested  the  girl,  in  distress. 

"  There  ain't  no  law,"  yelled  Bartlett,  "  that  kin  make  a  man  with 
a  load  move  out  fur  aoy thing." 

"  You  haven't  any  load,  unlnss  it's  in  that  jug." 

Yates  saw  with  consternation  that  the  jug  had  been  jolted  out  from 
under  its  covering,  but  the  happy  consolation  came  tx>  him  that  the  two 
in  the  buggy  would  believe  it  belonged  to  Bartlett.  He  thought,  how- 
ever, that  this  dog-in-tlie-man^  .:  policy  had  gone  far  enough.  He 
stepped  briskly  for'vard  and  said  to  Bartlett, — 

"  Better  drive  aside  a  little  and  let  them  pasH." 

"  You  'tend  to  your  own  business,"  cried  tiie  thoroughly  enraged 
farmer. 

"  I  will,"  said  Yates,  shortly,  striding  to  the  horses'  heads.  He 
took  them  by  the  bits,  and,  in  spite  of  Bartlett's  maledictions  and 
pulling  at  the  lines,  he  drew  them  to  one  side  so  that  the  buggy  got  by. 

"  Thank  you,"  cried  the  young  man.  The  light  and^glittering 
carriage  rapidly  disappeared  up  the  Ridge  Road. 

Bartlett  sat  there  for  one  moment  the  picture  of  baffled  rage. 
Then  he  threw  the  reins  down  on  the  backs  of  his  patient  hors^  and 
descended.  "  You  take  my  horses  by  the  head,  do  yoii,  you  good-fur- 
nuthin'  Yank  ?  You  do,  eh  ?  I  like  your  cheek.  Touch  my  horses 
an'  me  a-holdin'  the  lines  I  Now  you  hear  me?  Your  traps  cornea 
right  off  here  on  the  road.     You  hear  me  ?" 

"  Oh,  anybody  within  a  mile  can  hear  you." 

"  Kin  they  ?     Well,  off  comes  your  pesky  tent." 

"No,  it  doesn't." 


f# 


■■ 


148 


"IN  THM  MtDftr  OF  ALARMS.** 


"Don't  it,  eh?  WeU,  then,  ynn'il  lick  me  fiut ;  and  thatV  oome- 
Uiiiig  no  Yank  over  did,  nor  kin  do." 

"  I'll  do  it  with  plt«8iire." 

"  Come,  oome,"  oried  the  pmfemor,  ^tting  dowti  on  the  road,  "  this 
ban  fl;one  f.tr  onuugh.  Keep  quiet,  Yateti. — Now,  Mr.  Bartlett,  don't 
mind  it.     Ho  mcjint  no  diHreH|)<>ot." 

"  Don't  ynu  interfere.  You're  all  right,  an'  I  ain't  got  nothin' 
Off'in'  you.  But  I'm  goin'  to  thraah  thm  Yank  within  an  inch  of 
hi«  life;  see  if  I  don't.  We  met  'em  in  1812,  an'  we  fit  'em,  an'  we 
licked  'em,  an'  we  uao  dc  it  ag'in.  I'll  learn  ye  to  *ake  my  horsed 
by  the  head." 

"  Teach,"  Buggented  Yates,  tantalisingly. 

Before  he  could  properly  defend  himself,  Bartlett  sprang  ut  him 
and  graspc.1  him  round  the  waist.  Yates  was  something  of  a  wrestler 
himself,  but  his  skill  was  of  no  avail  on  this  occasion.  Bartlett's  right 
leg  l)ecaine  twiHtwl  uround  his  witli  a  steel-like  grip  that  speetlily  con- 
vinced the  younger  man  he  would  have  to  give  way  or  a  bone  would 
br«ak.  He  gave  way  accordingly,  and  the  next  thing  he  knew  he 
came  down  on  his  iMtck  with  a  thud  that  shook  the  universe. 

"  There,  darn  ye,"  cried  the  triumphant  farmer,  "  that's  1812  and. 
Queenston  Heights  for  ye.     How  do  you  like  'em?" 

Yates  rose  to  his  feet  with  some  deliberation,  and  slowly  took  off 
his  coat. 

'*  Now,  now,  Yatee,"  said  the  professor,  soothingly,  "  let  it  go  at 
this.  You're  not  hurt,  are  you  V  he  asked,  anxiously,  as  he  noticed 
bow  white  the  young  man  was  around  the  lips. 

"  Look  here,  Kenraark  ;  you're  a  sensible  man.  There  is  a  time 
to  interfere  and  a  time  not  to.  This  is  the  time  not  to.  A  oertaiu  in- 
ternational element  seems  to  have  crept  into  this  dispute.  Now,  you 
stand  aside,  like  a  good  tellow,  for  I  don't  want  to  have  to  thrash  both 
of  you." 

The  professor  stood  aflide,  for  he  realized  that  when  Yates  called 
him  by  his  last  name,  matters  were  serious. 

"  Now,  old  chuckle-head,  perhaps  you  would  like  to  try  that 
again." 

"I  kin  do  it  a  dozen  times,  if  ye  ain't  satisfied.  There  ain't  no 
Yank  ever  raised  on  pumpkin-pie  that  can  stand  ag'in'  that  grape-vine 
twist." 

"  Try  the  grape-vine  once  more." 

Bartlett  proot^ed  more  cautiously  this  time,  for  there  was  a  look 
in  the  young  man's  face  he  did  not  quite  like.  He  took  a  catoh-as- 
oatoh-can  attitude  tuul  moved  stealthily  in  a  semicircle  around  Yates, 
who  shifted  his  position  ox^nstantly  so  as  to  keep  facing  his  foe.  At 
l&st  Bartlett  sprang  forward,  and  the  next  instant  found  himself  sitting 
on  a  piece  of  the  rook  of  the  country,  with  a  thousand  humming-birds 
buzzing  in  his  head,  while  stars  and  the  landscape  around  joined  in 
a  danoe  together.  The  blow  was  sudden,  well  placed,  and  from  the 
shoulder. 

"  That,"  said  Yates,  standing  over  him,  "  is  1776,— the  Revolu- 
tion,— when,  to  use  your  own  phrase,  we  met  ye,  fit  ye,  and  licked  ye. 


J 


d^ittMiMaiMlflA 


HMMM 


that'n  soni*> 


J  road,  "  this 
artlett,  dun't 

got  nothin' 

an  inch  of 

:  'em,  ail'  we 

:e  my  honm 


rang  ut  him 
)i'  a  wrestler 
irtlett'H  right 
ipeediiy  con- 
bone  would 
he  knew  he 
Be. 
t's  1812  and. 

wly  took  off 

'let  it  go  at 
s  he  notioe<l 

re  is  a  time 

\.  certaiu  in- 

Now,  you 

thrash  both 

fates  called 

to  try   that 

lere  ain't  no 
it  grape-vine 


9  was  a  look 
a  catch-as- 
ound  Yates, 
lis  foe.  At 
nself  sitting 
nmiug-birds 
id  joined  in 
id  from  the 

he  Revoln- 
d  licked  ye. 


•«  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS' 


149 


How  do  yon  tike  it  f  Now,  if  mv  advloe  ia  of  any  oae  to  you,  take  a 
broader  view  of  history  than  vou  nave  done.  Don't  oonflna  yourself 
too  much  to  Diui  |>crio(i.     Study  up  the  war  of  the  Ilevoliition  a  bit." 

Bartlctt  niado  no  reply.  Aftctr  sitting  there  for  a  while  until  the 
surrounding  Iand8c«|>e  assumed  its  normal  condition,  be  arose  lei- 
surely, without  Htiying  a  wonl.  H<^  pi(^k«Nl  the  reins  from  the  back)* 
of  the  horses  and  patted  the  nearest  animal  gently.  Then  he  mounted 
to  bis  place  and  drove  off.  The  professor  liad  taken  his  seat  beside  the 
ilriver,  but  Yaten,  putting  on  hift  coat  and  picking  up  his  oine^  strode 
along  in  front,  switching  off  the  heads  or  Canada  tbisUos  with  his 
walking-stick  as  he  proceeded. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Bartlett  was  silent  for  a  long  time,  but  there  was  evidently 
something  on  his  mind,  for  he  communed  with  himself,  the  mutterings 
growing  louder  and  louder  until  they  broke  the  stillness ;  then  he 
jstruck  the  horses,  pulled  them  in,  anu  began  his  sol'^oquy  over  again. 
At  last  he  said  abruptly  to  the  professor, — 

"  What's  this  Revolution  he  talked  about?" 

"  It  was  the  war  of  independence,  l>cginning  in  1778." 

"  Never  heard  of  it.     Did  the  Yanks  fight  us?" 

"The  Colonies  fought  with  England." 

"What  Colonies  V" 

"  The  country  now  'tailed  the  United  States.'' 

"  They  fit  with  England,  eh  ?    Which  licked  r 

"  The  Colonies  won  their  independence." 

"  That  means  they  licked  us.  I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it.  'Pears 
to  me  I'd  'a'  heard  of  it ;  fur  I've  lived  in  these  parts  a  long  time." 

"  It  was  a  little  before  your  day." 

"So  was  1812;  but  my  father  fit  in  it,  an'  I  never  h&trd  him  tell 
of  this  Revolution.  He'd  'a'  known,  I  sh'd  think.  There's  a  nigger 
in  the  fence  somewheres." 

"  Well,  England  was  rather  busy  at  the  time  with  the  French." 

"Ah,  that  was  it,  was  it?  Ill  bet  England  never  knew  the 
Revolution  was  a-goin'  on  till  it  was  over.  Old  Napoleon  couldn't 
thrash  'em,  and  it  don't  stand  to  reason  that  the  Yanks  could.  I 
thought  there  was  some  skullduggery.  Why,  it  took  the  Yanks  four 
yeura  to  lick  themselves.  I  got  a  book  at  home  all  about  Napoleon. 
He  was  a  tough  cuss." 

The  professor  did  not  feel  called  upon^to  defend  the  charaoter  of 
Napoleon,  and  so  silence  once  more  descended  upon  them.  Bartlett 
seemed  a  good  deal  disturbed  by  the  news  he  had  just  heard  of  the 
Revolution,  and  he  growled  to  himself,  while  the  horses  suffered  more^ 
than  usual  from  the  whip  and  the  hauling  back  that  invariably  fol-' 
lowed  the  stroke.  Yates  was  some  distance  ahead,  raid  swinging  along 
at  a  great  rate,  when  the  horses,  apparently  of  their  owm  accord,  turned 
in  at  an  open  gate-way  and  proceeaed  in  their  .  .sual  leisurely  fashion 


MMWK^MMiiil 


w 


150 


"Jjyr  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


towai'ds  a  large  barn  past  a  comfortable  frame  house  with  a  wide 
veranda  in  front. 

"  This  ia  ray  place,"  said  Bartlett,  shortly. 
*      "  I  wish  you  had  told  me  a  few  minutes  ago,"  replied  the  professor, 
springing  on,  "so  that  I  might  have  called  to  my  friend." 

"I'm  not  frettin'  about  him,"  said  Bartlett,  throwing  the  reina  to 
a  young  man  who  came  out  of  the  house. 

Renmark  ran  to  the  road  and  shouted  loudly  to  the  distauc  Yatra. 
Yates  apparently  did  not  hear  him,  but  something  about  the  next 
house  attracted  the  pedestrian's  attention,  and  after  standing  for  a 
moment  and  gazing  towards  th'^  west  he  looked  around  and  saw 
the  professor  l)eckoning  to  him.  When  the  two  men  met,  Yates 
said, — 

"So  we  have  arrived,  have  we?  I  say,  Stilly,  she  lives  in  the 
next  house.    I  saw  the  buggy  in  the  yard." 

"She?    Who?" 

"  Why,  that  good-looking  girl  we  passed  on  the  road.  I'm  going 
to  buy  our  supplies  at  that  bouse,  Stilly,  if  you  have  no  objections.  By 
the  way,  how  is  my  old  friend  1812  ?"  „ 

"  He  doesn't  seem  to  harbor  any  harsh  feelings.  In  fact,  he  was 
more  troubled  about  the  Revolution  than  about  the  blow  you  gave 
him." 

"  News  to  him,  eh  ?  Well,  I'm  glad  I  knocked  something  into 
his  head." 

"  You  certainly  did  it  most  unscientifically." 

"How  do  you  mean — unscientifically?" 

"  In  the  delivery  of  the  blow.  I  never  saw  a  more  awkwardly 
delivered  undercut." 

Yates  looked  at  his  friend  in  astonishment.  How  should  this  calm 
learned  man  know  anything  about  undercuts  or  science  in  blows? 

"  Well,  you  must  admit  I  got  there  just  the  same." 

"  Yes,  by  brute  force.    A  sledge-hammer  would  have  done  as  well. 
/But  you  had  such  an  opportunity  to  do  it  neatly  and  deftly  without 
any  display  of  surplus  energy,  that  I  regretted  to  see  such  an  opening 
thrown  a-vay." 

"  Heavens  and  earth.  Stilly,  this  is  the  professor  in  a  new  light. 
What  do  you  teach  in  Toronto  University,  anyhow?  The  noble  art 
of  seli'-defeuce?" 

"  Not  exactly ;  but  if  you  intend  to  go  through  Canada  in  this 
belligerent  manner,  I  think  it  would  be  worth  your  while  to  take  a  few 
hints  from  me." 

"  With  striking  examples,  I  suppose.     By  Jove,  I  will,  Stilly." 

As  the  two  came  to  the  house  they  found  Bartlett  sitting  in  a 
wooden  rocking-chair  on  the  veranda,  looking  grimly  down  the  road. 

"  What  an  old  tyrant  that  man  must  be  in  his  home !"  said  Yates. 
There  was  no  time  for  the  professor  to  reply  before  they  came  within 
earshot. 

"  The  old  woman's  setting  out  supper,"  said  the  farmer,  gi'uflBy, 
that  piece  of  information  being  apparently  as  near  as  he  could  get 
towaids  inviting  them  to  share  his  hospitality.     Yates  didn't  knovr 


aittnil 


I 


■ft 


use  with  a  wide 


ied  the  professor, 

nd." 

dag  the  reir.d  to 

be  distaiic  Yates. 

about  the  next 

standing  for  a 

iround   and   saw 

men  met,  Yates 

she  lives  in  the 


■oad.    I'na  going 
I  objections.    By 

In  fact,  he  was 
J  blow  you  gave 

something  into 


nore  awkwardly 

should  this  calm 
5  in  blows  ? 

ive  done  as  well, 
d  deftly  without 
such  an  opening 

in  a  new  light. 
'    The  noble  art 

Canada  in  this 
lile  to  take  a  few 

will,  Stilly." 
;lett  sitting  in  a 
lown  the  road, 
ne !"  said  Yates, 
hey  came  within 

farmer,  gruffly, 
as  he  could  get 
tes  didn't  kuo\r 


"IM   THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


161 


whether  it  was  meant  for  an  invitation  or  not,  but  he  answered, 
shortly, — 

*'  iThanks,  we  won't  stay." 

"  Speak  fur  yourself,  please,"  snarled  Bartlett. 

"  Of  course  I  go  with  my  friend,"  said  Renmark ;  "  bnt  we  are 
obligei  for  the  invitation." 

"  Please  yourselves." 

"  What's  that?"  cried  a  cheery  voice  from  the  inside  of  the  house, 
as  a  stout,  rosy,  and  very  good-natured-looking  woman  appeared  at  the 
front  door.  "Won't  stay?  Who  won't  stay?  I'd  like  to  see  any- 
body leave  my  house  hungry  when  there's  a  meal  on  the  table.  And, 
young  men,  if  you  can  get  a  better  meal  anywhere  on  the  Ridge  than 
what  I'll  give  you,  why,  you're  welcome  to  go  there  next  time,  but 
this  meal  you'll  have  here,  inside  of  ten  minutes. — Hiram,  that's  your 
fault.  You  always  invite  a  person  to  dinner  as  if  you  wanted  to 
wrastle  with  him." 

Hiram  gave  a  guilty  start  and  looked  with  something  of  mute  ap« 
peal  at  the  two  men,  but  said  nothing. 

"Never  mind  him,"  continued  Mrs.  Bartlett.  "You're  at  my 
house ;  and,  whatever  my  neighbors  may  say  ag'in'  me,  I  never  heard 
anybody  complain  of  the  lack  of  good  victuals  while  I  was  able  to  do 
the  cooking.  Come  right  in  and  wash  j'oui-selves,  for  the  road  between 
here  and  the  fort  is  dusty  enough,  even  if  Hiram  never  was  taken  up 
for  fast  driving.     Besides,  a  wash  is  refreshing  after  a  hot  day." 

There  was  no  denying  the  cordiality  of  this  invitation,  and  Yates, 
whose  natural  gallantry  was  at  once  aroused,  responded  with  the  read- 
iness of  a  courtier.  Mrs.  Bartlett  led  the  way  into  the  house,  but  as 
Yates  passed  the  farmer  the  latter  cleared  his  throat  with  an  effort, 
and,  throwing  his  thumb  over  his  shoulder  in  the  direction  his  wife 
had  taken,  said,  in  a  husky  whisper, — 

"  No  call  to — to  mention  the  Revolution,  you  know." 

"  Certainly  not,"  answered  Yates,  with  a  wink  that  took  in  the 
situation.    " Shall  we  sample  the  jug  before  or  aft'-r  supper?" 

"  After,  if  it's  all  the  same  to  you,"  adding,  "  out  in  the  barn." 

Yates  nodded,  and  followed  his  friend  into  the  house. 

The  voung  men  were  shown  into  a  bedroom  of  more  than  ordinary 
size  oil  the  upper  floor.  Everything  about  the  house  was  of  the  most 
dainty  and  scrupulous  cleanliness,  and  an  air  of  cheerful  comfort  per- 
vaded the  place.  Mrs.  Bartlett  was  evidently  a  housekeeper  to  be 
proud  of.  Two  large  pitchers  of  cool  soft  water  awaited  them,  and  the 
wash,  as  had  been  predicted,  was  most  refreshing. 

"  I  say,"  6ried  Yates,  "  it's  rather  cheeky  to  accept  a  man's  hospi- 
utlity  after  knocking  him  down." 

"  It  would  be  for  most  people,  but  I  tWnk  you  underestimate  your 
cheek,  as  you  call  it." 

"  Bravo,  Stilly  I  You're  blossoming  out.  That's  rapartee,  that  is. 
With  tje  accent  on  the  rap,  too.  Never  you  mind  :  I  think  old  1812 
and  I  will  get  along  all  right  after  this.  It  doesn't  seem  to  bother  him 
any,  so  I  don't  see  why  it  should  worry  me.  Nice  motherly  old  lady, 
isn't  she?"  /  /> 


162 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS!.' 


"Who?      1812?" 

"  No  :  Mrs.  1812.  I'm  sorry  I  complimented  you  on  your  repartee. 
You'll  get  conceited.  Remember  that  what  in  the  newspaper-mau  is 
clever,  in  a  grave- professor  is  rank  flippancy.     Let's  go  down." 

The  table  was  covered  with  a  cloth  as  white  and  spotless  as  good, 
linen  can  well  be.  The  bread  was  genuine  home-made,  a  term  w)  oftoi^?A 
misused  in  the  cities.  It  was  brown  as  to  crust  and  flaky  and  light  as 
to  interior.  The  butter,  cool  from  the  rock  cellar,  was  of  a  lovely 
golden  hue.  The  sight  of  the  well-loaded  table  was  most  welcome  to 
the  eyes  of  hungry  travellers.  There  was,  as  Yates  afterwards  re- 
marked, "  abundance  and  plenty  of  it." 

"  Come,  father,"  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett,  as  the  young  men  appeared, 
and  they  heard  the  rocking-chair  creak  on  the  veranda  in  prompt 
answer  to  the  summons. 


"This  is 
young  man  who  stood  in  a  non-committal 


my  son,  gentlemen,"  said  Mrs.  Bartlett,  indicating  a 


attitude  near  the  corner  of 
the  room.  The  professor  recognized  him  as  the  person  who  had  taken 
chaise  of  the  horses  when  his  father  came  home.  There  was  evidently 
something  of  his  father's  demeanor  about  the  young  man,  who  awk- 
wardly and  silently  responded  to  the  recognition  of  the  strangers. 

"  And  this  is  my  daughter,"  continii«^'^  the  good  woman.  "  Now, 
what  might  your  names  be?" 

"  My  name  is  Yates,  and  this  is  my  friend  Professor  Benmark,  of 
T'ronto,"  pronouncing  the  name  of  the  fair  city  in  two  syllables,  as 
is,  alas !  too  often  done.  The  professor  bowed,  and  Yates  cordially 
extended  his  hand  to  the  young  woman.  "  How  do  you  do.  Miss 
Bartlett?"  he  said.     "I  am  happy  to  meet  yen." 

The  girl  smiled  very  prettily,  and  said  she  hoped  they  had  a 
pleasant  trip  out  from  Fort  Erie. 

"  Oh,  we  had,"  said  Yates,  looking  for  a  moment  at  his  host,  whose 
eyes  were  fixed  on  the  table-cloth,  and  who  appeared  to  be  quite  con- 
tent to  let  his  wife  run  the  show.  "  The  road's  a  little  rocky  m  placed, 
but  it's  very  pleasant." 

"  Now  you  sit  down  here,  and  you  here,"  said  Mrs.  Bartlett ;  "  aud 
I  do  hope  you  have  brought  good  appetites  with  you." 

The  strangers  took  their  places,  and  Yates  had  a  chance  to  look  at 
the  younger  member  of  the  family,  which  opportunityhe  did  not  let 
slip.  It  was  hard  to  believe  that  she  was  the  daughter  of  so  crusty  a 
man  as  Hiram  Bartlett.  Her  cheeks  were  rosy,  with  dimples  in  them 
that  constantly  came  and  went,  in  her  incessant  efforts  to  keep  from 
laughing.  Her  hair,  which  hung  about  her  plump  shoulders,  was  a 
lovely  golden  brown.  Although  her  dress  was  of  the  cheapest  material, 
it  was  neatly  cut  and  fitted ;  and  her  dainty  white  pinafore  added  that 
touch  of  wholesome  cleanliness  that  was  so  noticeable  everywhere  in 
the  house.  A  bit  of  blue  ribbon  at  her  white  throat  and  a  flower 
of  the  spring  just  below  it  completed  a  charming  ])icture,  which  a  more 
critical  and  less  susceptible  man  than  Yates  might  have  contemplated 
with  pleasure. 

Mi^  Bartlett  sat  smilingly  at  one  end  of  the  table,  and  her  father 
grimly  at  the  other.    The  mother  sat  at  the  side,  apparently  looking 


1^ 


i^X^feMirf^B^iriiHiiMHHIi^fll 


"^^fc 


'our  repartee, 
paper-mau  is 
awn  "" 

tless  as  gooci, 
term  m  ofk^iy' 
and  light  as 
of  a  lovely 
t  welcome  to 
iterwards  re- 
en  appeared, 
in  prompt 

indicating  a 
he  corner  of 
10  had  taken 
'as  evidently 
a,  who  awk- 
angers. 
in.     "  Now, 

tenmark,  of 
syllables,  as 
:e8  cordially 
)U  do,  Miss 

they  had  a 

host,  whose 
e  quite  con- 
ey m  places, 

tlett;  "and 

e  to  look  at 
did  not  let 
80  crusty  a 
•les  in  them 
keep  from 
ders,  was  a 
st  material, 
added  that 
rv  where  in 
icl  a  flower 
nch  a  more 
ntemplated 

!  'ber  father 
tly  looking 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


163 


on  that  position  as  one  of  vantage  for  commanding  the  whole  field  and 
keeping  her  husband  and  her  daughter  both  under  her  eye.  The  tea- 
pot and  cups  were  set  before  the  young  woman.  She  did  not  pour  out 
the  tea  at  once,  but  seemed  to  be  waiting  instructions  from  her  mother. 
;|That  good  lady  was  gazing  with  some  sternness  at  her  husband,  he 
vainly  endeavoring  to  look  at  the  ceiling  or  anywhere  but  at  her.  He 
drew  his  open  hand  nervously  down  his  face,  which  was  of  unusual 
gravity  even  for  him.  Finally  he  cast  an  appealing  glance  at  his  wife, 
who  sat  with  her  hands  folded  on  her  lap,  but  her  eyes  were  unreleat- 
ing.  After  a  moment's  hopeless  irresolution,  fiartlett  bent  his  h^d 
over  his  plate  and  murmured, — 

"  For  what  we  are  about  to  receive,  oh,  make  us  truly  thankful. 
Amen,"  Mrs.  Bartlett  echoed  the  last  word,  having  also  bowed  her 
head  when  she  saw  surrender  in  the  troubled  eyes  of  ner  husband. 

Now,  it  happened  that  Yates,  who  had  seen  nothing  of  this  silent 
stru^le  of  the  eyes,  being  exceedingly  hungry,  was  making  every 
preparation  for  the  energetic  beginning  of  the  meal.  He  had  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  hotels  and  New  York  Iwarding-houses,  so  that  if  he  ever 
knew  the  adage  "Grace  before  meals"  he  had  forgotten  it.  In  the 
midst  of  his  preparations  came  the  devout  words,  and  they  came  upon 
him  as  a  stupefying  surprise.  Although  naturally  a  resourceful  man, 
he  was  not  quick  enough  this  time  to  cover  his  confusion.  Miss  Bart- 
lett's  golden  head  was  bowed,  but  out  of  the  corner  of  her  eye  she  saw 
Yates  s  look  of  amazed  bewilderment  and  his  sudden  halt  of  surprise. 
When  all  heads  wei«  raised  the  young  girl's  still  remained  where  it  was, 
while  her  plump  shoulders  quivered.  Then  she  covered  her  face  with 
her  apron,  and  the  silvery  ripple  of  a  laugh  came  like  a  smothered 
musical  chime  trickling  through  her  fingers. 

"  Why,  IStty  /"  cried  her  mother,  in  astonishment,  "  what  ever  is 
the  matter  with  vou?"  , 

The  girl  could  no  longer  restrain  her  mirth. 

"You'll  have  to  pour  out  the  tea,  mother,"  she  exclaimed,  as  she 
fled  from  the  room. 

*-'  For  the  land's  sake  i"  cried  the  astonished  mother,  rising  to  take 
her  frivolous  daughter's  place,  "  what  ails  the  child  ?  I  don't  see  what 
there  is  to  laugh  at." 

Hiram  scowled  down  the  table,  and  was  evidently  also  of  the 
opinion  that  there  was  no  occasion  for  mirth.  The  professor  was 
equally  in  the  dark. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Mrs.  Bartlett,"  said  Yates,  "  that  I  am  the  innocent 
cause  of  Miss  Kitty's  mirth.  You  see,  madam,— it's  a  pathetic  thing 
to  say,  but  really  I  have  had  no  home  life.  Although  I  attend  church 
regularly,  of  course,"  he  added,  with  jaunty  mendacity,  "  I  must  con- 
fess that  I  haven't  heard  grace  at  meals  for  years  and  years,  and — well, 
I  wasn't  just  prepared  for  it.  I  have  no  doubt  I  made  an  exhibition 
of  myself  which  your  daughter  was  quick  to  see." 

"  It  wasn't  very  polite,"  said  Mrs.  Bartlett,  with  some  asperity. 

"I  know  that,"  pleaded  Yates,  with  contrition,  "  but  I  assure  you 
it  was  unintentional  on  my  part" 

"  Bless  the  man  1"  cried  his  hostess,    "  I  don't  mean  yoa.    I  mean 


j^mk 


154 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


Kitty.  But  that  girl  never  could  keep  her  face  straight.  She  always 
favored  me  more  than  her  father." 

This  statement  was  not  difficult  to  believe,  for  Hiram,  at  that 
moment,  looked  as  if  he  had  never  smiled  in  his  life.  He  sat  silent 
throughout  the  raealj  but  Mrs.  Bartlett  talked  quite  enough  for  two. 

"  Well,  for  my  part,"  she  said,  "  I  don't  know  what  farming's 
coming  to.  Henry  Howard  and  Margaret  drove  past  here  this  after- 
noon as  proud  as  Punch  in  their  new  covered  buggy.  Thingr  is  very 
different  from  what  they  was  when  I  was  a  girl.  Then  a  farmer's 
daughter  had  to  work.  Now  Margaret's  took  her  diploma  at  the  ladies' 
college,  and  Arthur  he's  begun  at  the  University,  and  Henry's  sporting 
round  in  a  new  buggy.  They  have  a  piano  there,  with  the  organ 
moved  out  into  the  back  room." 

"  The  whole  Howard  lot's  a  stuck-up  set,"  muttered  the  farmer. 

But  Mrs.  Bartlett  wouldn't  have  that.  Any  detraction  that  was 
necessary  she  felt  competent  to  supply,  without  help  from  the  nom- 
inal head  of  the  house. 

"  No,  I  don't  go  so  far  as  to  say  that.  Neither  would  you,  Hiram, 
if  you  hadn't  lost  your  law-suit  about  the  line  fence ;  and  served  you 
right,  too,  for  it  wouldn't  have  been  b^un  if  I  had  been  at  home 
at  the  time.  Not  but  what  Margaret's  a  good  housekeeper,  for  she 
wouldn't  be  her  mother's  daughter  if  she  wasn't  that,  but  it  does  seem 
to  me  a  queer  way  to  bring  up  farmers'  children,  and  I  only  hope  they 
can  keep  it  up.  There  were  no  pianos  nor  French  and  German  in  my 
young  days." 

"You  ought  to  hear  her  play  I  My  lands !"  cried  young  Bartlett, 
who  spoke  for  the  first  time.  His  admiration  for  her  accomplishment 
evidently  went  beyond  his  powera  of  expression. 

Bartlett  himself  did  not  relish  the  turn  the  conversation  had 
taken,  and  he  looked  ijomewhat  uneasily  at  the  two  young  strangers. 
The  professor's  couutenance  was  open  and  frank,  and  he  was  listening 
with  respectful  inf:3rest  to  Mrs.  Bartlett's  talk.  Yates  bent  over  his 
plate  witn  flushed  face,  and  confined  himself  strictly  to  the  business  in 
hand. 

"I  am  glad,"  said  the  professor  innocently  to  Yates,  "that  you 
made  the  young  lady's  acquaintance.  I  must  ask  you  for  an  intro- 
duction." 

For  once  in  his  life  Yates  had  nothing  to  say,  but  he  looked  at  his 
friend  with  an  expression  that  was  not  kindly.  The  latter,  in  answer 
to  Mrs.  Bartlett's  inquiries,  told  how  they  had  passed  Miss  Howard  on 
the  road,  and  how  Yates,  with  his  usual  kindness  of  heart,  had  offered 
the  young  woman  the  hospitalities  of  the  hay-n>ck.  Two  persons  at  the 
table  were  much  relieved  when  the  talk  turned  to  the  tent.  It  was 
young  Hiram  who  brought  about  this  boon.  He  was  interested  in  the 
tent,  and  he  wanted  to  know.  Two  things  seemed  to  bother  the  boy. 
First,  he  was  anxious  to  learn  what  diabolical  cause  had  been  at  work 
to  induce  two  apparently  sane  men  to  give  up  the  comforts  of  home 
and  live  in  this  exposed  manner,  if  they  were  uot  compelled  to  do  so. 
Second,  he  desired  to  find  out  why  people  who  had  the  privilege  of 
living  in  large  cities  came  of  their  own  accord  into  the  uninteresting 


ff 


liAMMMHiaita^M 


She  always 

ram,  at  that 
Ele  sat  silent 
;h  for  two. 
lat  farming's 
re  this  after- 
hinge  ie  very 
n  a  farmer's 
at  the  ladies' 
iry's  sporting 
[h  the  organ 

he  farmer, 
ion  that  was 
tm  the  nom- 

you,  Hiram, 
i  served  you 
een  at  home 


epar, 


for  she 


it  does  seem 
ily  hope  they 
erman  in  my 

ung  Bartlett, 
omplishment 

ersation  had 
ig  strangers, 
was  listening 
ent  over  his 
e  basiness  in 

I,  "that  you 
or  an  intro- 

ooked  at  his 
',  in  answer 
Howard  on 
had  offered 
ersons  at  the 
ivt.  It  was 
rested  in  the 
ler  the  boy. 
een  at  work 
irts  of  home 
id  to  do  so. 
jrivilege  of 
ninteresting 


"  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


155 


country  anyhow.  Even  after  ezplanations  were  offered  the  problem 
seemed  still  beyond  him. 

After  the  meal  they  all  adjourned  to  the  veranda,  where  the  air 
was  cool  and  the  view  extensive.  Mrs.  Bartlett  would  not  hear  of  the 
young  men  pitching  the  tent  that  night. 

"  Goodness  knows,  you  v/ill  have  enough  of  it,  with  the  rain  and 
the  mosquitoes.  We  have  plenty  of  room  nere,  and  you  will  have  one 
comfortable  night  on  the  Bidge,  at  any  rate.  Then  in  the  morning  you 
can  find  a  place  in  the  woods  to  suit  you,  and  n;y  boy  will  take  an  axe 
and  cut  stakes  for  you  and  help  to  put  up  your  precious  tent.  Only 
remember  that  when  it  rains  you  are  to  come  to  tne  house,  or  you  will 
cat«h  your  deaths  with  cold  and  rheumatism.  It  will  be  very  nice  till 
the  novelty  wears  off;  then  you  are  quite  welcome  to  the  front  rooms 
up-stairs,  and  Hiram  can  take  the  tent  back  to  Erie  the  first  time  he 
goes  to  town." 

Mrs.  Bartlett  had  a  way  of  taking  things  for  granted.  It  never 
seemed  to  occur  to  her  that  any  of  her  rulings  might  be  questioned. 
Hiram  sat  gazing  silently  at  the  road  as  if  all  this  was  no  affair  of 
his. 

Yates  had  refused  a  chair,  and  sat  on  the  edge  of  the  veranda,  with 
his  back  against  one  of  the  pillars,  in  such  a  position  that  he  might, 
without  turning  his  head,  look  through  the  open  door-way  into  the 
room  where  Miss  Bartlett  was  busily  but  silently  clearing  away  the  tea- 
things.  The  young  man  caught  fleeting  glimpses  of  her  as  she  moved 
airily  about  her  work.  He  drew  a  cigar  from  his  case,  cut  off  the  end 
with  his  knife,  and  lit  a  match  on  the  sole  of  his  boot,  doing  this  with 
an  easy  automatic  familiarity  that  required  no  attention  on  his  part,  all 
of  which  aroused  the  respectful  envy  of  young  Hiram,  who  sat  on  a 
wooden  chair,  leaning  forward,  ef^rly  watching  the  man  from  New 
York. 

"  Have  a  cigar  ?"  said  Yates,  offering  the  case  to  young  Hiram. 

"  No,  no ;  thank  you,"  gasped  the  boy,  aghast  at  the  reckless 
audacity  of  the  proposal. 

"  What's  that  T*  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett.  Although  she  was  talking 
volubly  to  the  professor,  her  maternal  vigilance  never  even  noddec^ 
much  less  slept.  "  A  cigar  ?  Not  likely !  I'll  say  this  for  my  hus- 
band and  my  boy,  that,  whatever  else  they  may  have  done,  they  have 
never  smoked  nor  touched  a  drop  of  liquor  since  I've  known  them,  and 
— please  God — they  never  will." 

"  Oh,  I  guess  it  wouldn't  hurt  them,"  said  Yates,  with  a  lack  of  tact 
that  was  not  habitual.  He  fell  several  d^rees  in  the  estimation  of  his 
hostess. 

"  Hurt  'em  ?"  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett,  indignantly.  "  I  guess  it  won't 
get  a  chance  to."  She  turned  to  the  professor,  who  was  a  good 
listener, — re8{)ectful  and  deferential,  with  little  to  say  for  himself.  She 
rocked  gently  to  and  fro  as  she  talked. 

Her  husband  sat  unbendingly  silent,  in  a  sphinx-like  attitude  that 
gave  no  outward  indication  of  his  mental  uneasiness.  He  was  think- 
ing gloomily  that  it  would  be  just  his  luck  to  meet  Mrs.  Bartlett  un- 
expectedly on  the  streets  of  Fort  Erie  on  one  of  those  rare  occasions 


mm 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


when  he  was  enjoying  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season.  He  had  the 
most  pessimistic  forebodings  of  what  the  future  might  have  in  store  for 
him.  Sometimes  when  neighbors  or  customers  treated  often  in  the 
village  and  he  felt  he  had  taken  all  the  whiskey  that  cloves  would  oon- 
ceal,  ne  took  a  five-cent  cigar  instead  of  a  drink.  He  did  not  partic- 
ularly like  the  smoking  of  it,  but  there  was  a  certain  devil-may-care 
recklessness  in  going  down  the  street  with  a  lighted  cigar  in  his  teeth, 
which  had  all  the  more  fascination  for  him  because  of  its  i^anifest 
danger.  He  felt  at  these  times  that  he  was  going  the  pace,  and  that  it  is 
well  our  women  do  not  know  of  all  the  wickedness  there  is  in  this  world. 
He  did  not  fear  that  any  neighbor  might  tell  his  wife,  for  there  were 
depths  to  \/hich  no  person  could  convince  Mrs.  Bartlett  he  would 
descend.  But  he  thought  with  horror  of  some  combination  of  circum- 
stances that  might  bring  his  wife  to  town  unknown  to  him  on  a  day 
when  he  indulged.  He  pictured  with  a  shudder  meeting  her  unex- 
pectedly on  the  uncertain  plank  side-walk  of  Fort  Erie,  he  smoking 
a  cigar.  When  this  nightmare  presented  itself  to  him  he  resolved 
never  to  touch  a  cigar  again  ;  but  he  well  knew  thct  the  best  resolu- 
tions fade  away  when  a  man  is  excited  with  two  or  thi-ee  glasses  of 
liquor. 

When  Mrs>.  Bartlett  resumed  conversation  with  the  professor, 
Yates  looked  up  at  young  Hiram  and  winked.  The  boy  flushed  with 
pleasure  under  the  comprehensiveness  of  that  wink.  It  included  him 
in  the  attractive  halo  of  cria^e  that  enveloped  the  fascinating  person- 
ality of  the  man  from  New  York.     It  seemed  to  say, — 

"  That's  all  right,  but  we  are  men  of  the  world.     We  know." 

The  tea-dishes  having  been  cleared  away,  Yates  got  no  more 
glimpses  of  tiie  girl  through  the  open  door.  He  rose  from  his  lowly 
seat  and  strolled  towards  the  gate  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets.  He 
remembered  that  he  had  forgotten  something,  and  cudgelled  his  brains 
to  make  out  what  it  was.  He  gazed  down  the  road  at  the  house  of 
the  Howards,  which  naturally  brought  to  his  recollection  his  meeting 
with  the  young  girl  on  the  ix>ad.  There  was  a  pang  of  discomfiture  in 
this  thought,  when  he  remembered  the  accomplishments  attributed  to 
her  by  Mrs.  Bartlett.  He  recalled  his  condescending  tone  to  her,  and 
recollected  his  anxiety  about  the  jug.  The  jug!  That  was  what  he 
had  forgotten.  He  flashed  a  glance  at  old  Hiram,  and  noted  that  the 
farmer  was  looking  at  him  with  something  like  reproach  in  his  eyes. 
Yates  moved  his  head  almost  imperceptibly  towards  the  barn,  and  the 
farmei*'8  eyes  dropped  to  the  floor  of  the  veranda.  The  young  man 
nonchalantly  strolled  past  the  end  of  the  house. 

"  I  guess  I'll  go  to  look  after  the  horses,"  said  the  farmer,  rising. 

"  Here's  looking  at  you,"  said  Yates,  strolling  into  the  barn,  taking 
a  telescopic  metal  cup  from  his  pocket  and  clinking  it  into  receptive 
shape  by  a  jerk  of  the  hand.  He  ofiered  the  now  elongated  cup  to 
Hiram,  who  declined  any  such  modern  improvement. 

"  Help  yourself  in  that  thing.    The  jug's  good  enough  for  me." 

"  Three  fingers"  pf  the  liquid  gui^lea  out  into  the  patented  vessel, 
and  the  farmer  took  the  jug,  after  a  furtive  look  over  his  shoulder. 

"  Well,  here's  luck."    And  the  newspaper-man  tossed  off  the  potion 


He  had  the 
i^e  in  store  for 
oflen  in  the 
»  would  oon- 
id  not  partio- 
Bvil-raay-care 
r  in  his  teeth, 

its  i^anifest 
,  and  that  it  is 
ill  this  world, 
or  there  were 
stt  he  would 
)n  of  circuna- 
him  on  a  day 
tie  her  unex- 
,ne  smoking 

he  resolved 
e  best  resolu- 
ee  glasses  of 

be  professor, 
flushed  with 
included  him 
Eiting  person- 
know." 
;ot  no  more 
om  his  lowly 
xwketfi.  He 
ed  his  brains 
the  house  of 

his  meeting 
soomfiture  in 
attributed  to 
e  to  her,  and 
was  what  he 
)ted  that  the 
his  eyes. 
"  the 

young  man 


1  in 
am,  and 


ler,  rising, 
barn,  taking 
ato  receptive 
:ated  cup  to 

for  me." 
snted  vessel, 
ihoulder. 
ff  the  potion 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


157 


with  the  facility  of  long  experience,  shutting  up  the  dish  with  his 
thumb  and  finger  as  if  it  were  a  metallic  opera-hat. 

The  farmer  drank  silently  from  the  jug  itself.  Then  he  smote  in 
the  cork  with  his  open  palm. 

"  Better  bury  it  in  the  wheat-bin,"  he  said,  morosely.  "  The  boy 
might  find  it  ii  you  put  it  among  the  oats, — feedin'  the  horses,  ye 
know." 

"  Mighty  good  place,"  assented  Yates,  as  the  golden  grain  flowed 
.  in  a  wave  over  the  submerged  jar.  "  I  say,  old  man,  you  know  the 
spot :  you've  been  here  before." 

Bartlett's  lowering  countenance  indicated  resentment  at  the  impu- 
tation, but  he  neither  affirmetl  nor  denied.  Yates  strolled  cut  of  the 
,  barn,  while  the  farmer  went  through  a  small  door-wav  that  led  to  the 
stable.  A  moment  later  he  heard  Hiram  calling  loudly  to  his  son  to 
bring  the  pails  to  water  the  horses. 

"  Evidently  preparing  an  alibi,"  said  Yates,  smiling  to  himself,  as 
he  sauntered  towards  the  gate. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Thky  were  all  at  breakfast  when  Yates  n&A  morning  entered  the 
apartment  which  was  at  once  dining-room  and  parlor. 

"Waiting  for  you,"  said  vonng  Hiram,  humorously,  that  being 
one  of  a  set  of  jokes  which  suited  various  occasions.  Yates  took  his 
place  near  Miss  Kitty,  who  looked  as  fresh  and  radiant  as  a  spring 
flower. 

"  I  hope  I  haven't  kept  you  waiting  long,"  he  said. 

"  No  fear,"  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett.  "  If  breakfast's  a  minute  later 
than  seven  o'clock  we  soon  hear  of  it  from  the  men-folks.  They  get 
precious  hungry  by  that  time." 

'*  By  that  time  ?"  echoed  Yates.  "  Then  do  they  get  up  before 
seven  ?" 

"  Laws  I  what  a  farmer  you  would  make,  Mr.  Yates  I"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Bi»rilett,  laughing.  "  Why,  everything's  done  about  the  house 
and  barn,  horses  fed,  cows  milked, — everything.  There  never  was  a 
better  motto  made  than  the  one  you  learnt  when  you  were  a  boy  and 
like  as  not  have  forgotten  all  about : 

Earljr  to  bed  and  early  to  rise 

Makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy,  and  wise. 

I'm  sorry  you  don't  believe  in  it,  Mr.  Yates." 

"  Oh,  that's  all  right,"  said  Yates,  with  some  loftiness,  "  but  Fd 
like  to  see  a  man  get  out  a  morning  paper  on  such  a  basis.  I'm 
healthy  enough,  qtiite  as  wealthy  as  the  professor  here,  and  every  one 
will  admit  that  I  m  wiser  than  he  is,  yet  I  never  go  to  bed  until  afler 
two  o'clock,  and  rarely  wake  before  noon." 

Kitty  laughed  at  this,  and  young  Hiram  looked  admiringly  at  the 
New-Yorker,  wishing  he  was  as  clever. 


^*,- -.-_._ 


## 


168 


"  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


"For  the  land's  sake!"  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett,  with  true  feminine 
profanity.     "  What  do  you  do  up  bo  liito  as  that?" 

"  Writing,  writing,"  said  Yates,  airily, — "  articles  that  make  dy- 
nasties tremble  next  morning,  and  which  call  forth  apologies  or  libel 
suits  afterwards,  as  the  case  may  be." 

"  Mr.  Bartlett  has  been  good  enough,"  said  the  professor,  changing 
the  subject,  "  to  say  we  may  camp  in  the  woods  at  the  back  of  the  farm. 
I  have  been  out  there  this  morning,  and  it  certainly  is  a  lovei-'  spot." 

"  We're  awfully  obliged,  Mr,  Bartlett,"  said  Yates.  "  Of  course 
Renmark  went  out  there  merely  to  show  the  difference  between  the  ant 
and  the  butterfly.  You'll  find  out  what  a  humbug  he  is  by  and  by, 
Mrs.  Bartlett     He  looks  honest ;  but  you  wait." 

"  I  know  just  the  spot  for  the  tent,"  cried  young  Hiram, — '*  down 
in  the  hollow  by  the  creek.    Then  you  won't  need  to  haul  water." 

"  Yes,  and  catch  their  deaths  of  fever  and  ague/'  said  Mrs. 
Bartlett.  Malaria  had  not  then  been  invented.  "Take  my  advice, 
and  put  your  tent — if  you  vnU  put  it  up  at  all— on  the  highest  ground 
you  can  find.     Hauling  water  won't  hurt  you." 

"  I  agree  with  you,  Mrs.  Bartlett.     It  shall  be  so.     My  friend  uses 

no  water, — ^you  ought  to  have  seen  his  bill  at  the  Bufialo  hotel :  I 

have  it  somewhere,  ai^d  am  going  to  pin  it  up  on  the  outside  of  the  tent 

as  a  warning  to  the  ^uth  of  this  neighborhood, — and  what  water  I 

"need  I  can  easily  carry  up  from  the  creek." 

The  professor  did  not  defend  himself,  and  Mrs.  Bartlett  evidently 
took  a  large  discount  from  all  that  Yates  said.  She  was  a  shrewd 
woman. 

After  breakfast  the  men  went  out  to  the  barn.  The  horses  were 
hitched  to  the  wagon,  irhich  etill  contained  the  tent  and  fittings. 
Young  Hiram  threw  au  axe  and  a  spade  among  the  canvas  folds, 
mounted  to  his  place,  and  drove  up  the  lane  leading  to  the  forest,  fol- 
lowed by  Yates  and  Benmark  on  foot,  leaving  the  farmer  in  his  barn- 
yard with  a  cheery  good-by  which  he  did  not  see  fit  to  return. 

Young  Hiram  knew  the  locality  well,  and  drove  direct  to  an  ideal 
place  for  camping.     Yat.^<3  was  enchanted. 

When  the  tent  was  put  up  he  gazed  in  enthusiastic  rapture  around 
him  and  upbraided  Renmark  because  he  took  the  sylvan  situation  so 
coolly. 

"  Where  are  your  eyes,  Renny,"  he  cried,  "  that  you  don't  grow 
wild  when  you  look  around  you  ?  See  the  dappled  sunlight  filtering 
through  the  leaves ;  listen  to  the  murmur  of  the  wind  in  the  branches ; 
hear  the  trickle  of  the  brook  down  there ;  notice  the  smooth  bark  of  the 
beech  and  the  ru^ed  covering  of  the  oak ;  smell  the  wholesome  wood- 
land scents.  Renmark,  you  have  no  soul,  or  'ou  could  not  be  so  un- 
moved.   It  is  like  Paradise.     It  is St._y,  Renny,  by  Jove,  I've 

forgotten  that  jug  at  the  barn !" 

"  The  jug  will  be  left  there." 

"  Will  it?    Oh,  well,  if  you  say  so." 

"  I  do  say  so.  I  looked  around  for  it  this  morning  to  smash  it, 
but  couldn't  find  it" 

"Why  didn't  you  ask  old  Bartlett?" 


-Urn 


/ 


1 


If 


^^^^Jitmiami^m^tttmiM 


lUfe 


true  feminine 

lat  make  dy- 
iogies  or  liiiel 

8or,  changing 
k  of  the  farm, 
lovej  V  spot." 
"Of  course 
tween  the  ant 
is  by  and  by, 

am, — **  down 
il  water." 
,"  said   Mrs. 
e  my  advice, 
ghest  ground 

'.y  friend  uses 
lalo  hotel :  I 
le  of  the  tent 
what  water  I 

lett  evidently 
vas  a  shrewd 

e  horses  were 

and   fittings. 

canvas  folds, 

le  forest,  fol- 

'  in  his  barn- 

;urn. 

St  to  an  ideal 

ptare  around 
t  situation  so 

u  don't  grow 
ight  filtering 
he  branches ; 
b  bark  of  the 
esome  wood- 
lot  be  so  un- 
y  Jove,  I've 


to  smash  it, 


"ly  THE  MIDST  OF  ALAJHUS.' 


im 


**  I  did,  but  he  didn't  know  where  it  was." 

Yates  threw  himself  down  on  the  mnns  and  laughed,  flinging  his 
arms  and  legs  about  with  the  joy  of  living. 

"  Say,  Culture,  have  you  got  any  old  disreputable  clothes  with  you  ? 
Well,  then,  go  into  the  tent  and  put  them  on,  then  come  out  and  lie 
on  your  back  and  look  up  at  the  leave«f.  You're  a  good  fellow,  Renny, 
but  decent  clothes  spoil  you.  You  won't  know  yourself  when  you  get 
ancient  duds  on  your  back.  Old  clothes  mean  freedom,  liberty,  all  that 
our  ancestors  fought  for.  When  you  come  out  we'll  settle  who's  to 
cook  and  who  to  wash  dishes.  I've  settled  it  already  in  my  own  mind, 
but  I  am  not  so  selfish  as  to  refuse  to  discuss  the  matter  with  you." 

When  the  professor  came  out  of  the  tent  Yates  roared.  Benmark 
himself  smiled :  he  knew  the  effect  would  appeal  to  Yates. 

"  By  Jove,  old  man,  I  ought  to  have  included  a  mirror  in  the  out- 
fit. The  look  of  learned  respectability  set  off  with  the  garments  of  a 
disreputable  tramp  makes  a  combination  that  is  simply  killing.  Well, 
you  can't  spoil  that  suit,  anyhow.     Now  sprawl." 

"  I'm  very  comfortable  standing  up,  thank  vou." 

" Get  down  on  your  back.     You  hear  me? 

"  Put  me  there.'' 

"  You  mean  it  ?"  asked  Yates,  sitting  up.      ^ 

"Certainly."  f 

"  Say,  Benny,  beware :  I  don't  want  to  hurt  you." 

"  I'll  forgive  you  for  once." 

"  On  your  head  be  it." 

"  On  my  back,  you  mean." 

"  That's  not  baid,  Renny,"  cried  Yates,  springing  to  his  feet.  "  Now, 
it  will  hurt :  you  have  fair  warning.     I  bave  spoken." 

The  young  men  took  sparring  attitudes.  Yates  tried  to  do  it  gently 
at  first,  but,  finding  he  could  not  touch  his  opponent,  struck  out  more 
earnestly,  again  giving  a  friendly  warning.  This  went  on  ineffectually 
for  some  time,  when  the  professor,  with  a  quick  movement,  swung 
around  his  foot  with  the  airy  grace  of  a  dancing-master,  and  caught 
Yates  just  behind  the  knee,  at  the  same  time  giving  him  a  slight  tap 
on  the  breast.     Yates  was  instantlv  on  his  back. 

"  Oh,  I  say,  Benny,  that  wasn't  fair.     That  was  a  kick." 

"  No,  it  wasn't  It  is  merely  a  little  French  touch.  I  learned  it 
in  Paris.  They  do  kick  there,  you  know,  and  it  is  good  to  know  how 
to  use  your  feet  as  well  as  your  fists  if  you  are  set  on  by  three,  as  I  was 
one  night  in  the  Latin  Quarter." 

Yates  sat  up. 

"  Look  here,  Benmark  :  when  were  you  in  Paris  ?" 

"  Several  times." 

Yates  gazed  at  him  for  a  few  moments,  then  said, — 

"  Benny,  you  improve  on  acquaintance.  I  never  saw  a  Bool-var 
in  my  life.     You  must  teach  me  that  little  kick." 

"With  pleasure,"  said  Benmark,  sitting  down,  while  the  other 
sprawled  at  full  length.  "  Teaching  is  my  busings,  and  I  shall  be 
glad  to  exercise  any  talents  I  may  have  in  that  line.  In  endeavor- 
ing to  instruct  a  New  York  man,  the  first  step  is  to  convince  him 


\ 


'f  # 


160 


"  FN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


he  doesn't  know  everything.  That  is  the  difficult  point.  Afterwards, 
everything  i«  easy." 

"  Mr.  Stitison  Renmark,  you  are  pleased  to  lie  severe.  Know  that 
you  are  forgiven.  This  delicious  sylvan  retreat  does  nut  lend  itself  to 
acrimonious  dispute,  or,  in  plain  English,  ouarrelling.  Let  dogs  de- 
light, if  they  want  to ;  I  refuse  to  be  goade<l  by  your  querulous  iiature 
into  giving  anything  but  the  sofl  answer.  Now  to  business.  Nothing 
is  so  conducive  to  friendship,  when  two  people  are  camping  out,  as  a 
definition  of  the  duties  of  each  at  the  beginning.  Do  you  follow 
me?" 

"  Perfectly.     What  do  you  propose?" 

"  I  propose  that  you  do  the  cooking  and  I  wash  the  dishes.  We 
will  forage  for  food  alternate  days." 

"  Very  well.     I  agree  to  that." 

Richard  Yates  sat  sullenly  upright,  looking  at  his  friend  with  re- 
proach in  his  eyes.  "  See  here,  Kenmark.  Are  you  resolved  to  force 
on  an  international  complication  the  very  first  day?  That's  no  fair 
show  to  give  a  man." 

"What  isn't?" 

"  Why,  agreeing  with  him.  There  are  depths  of  meanness  in  your 
character,  Renny,  tni^t  I  never  suspected.  You  know  that  people  who 
camp  out  always  objict  to  the  rart  assigned  them  by  their  fellow- 
campers.     I  counted  on  that.     I'll  do  anything  but  wash  dishes." 

"Then  why  didn't  you  say  so?" 

"  Because  any  sane  man  would  have  said  '  no'  when  I  suggested 
cooking,  merely  because  I  suggested  it.  There's  no  diplomacy  about 
you,  Renmark.  A  man  doesn't  know  where  to  find  you,  when  you  act 
like  that,  ^"len  you  refused  to  do  the  cookine,  I  would  have  said, 
*  Very  well,  then  1 11  do  it,'  and  everything  would  have  been  lovely ; 
but  now " 

Yates  lay  down  again  in  disgnst.  There  are  moments  in  life  when 
language  fails  a  man. 

"Then  it's  settled  that  you  do  the  cooking  and  I  wash  the  dishes?" 
said  the  professor. 

"  Settled  ?  Oh,  yes,  if  you  say  so  ;  but  all  the  pleasure  of  getting 
one's  own  way  by  the  use  of  one's  brains  is  gone.  I  hate  to  be  agreed 
with  in  that  objectionably  civil  manner." 

"  Well,  that  point  being  arranged,  who  b^ins  the  foraging,  you 
or  I?" 

"  Both,  Herr  Professor,  both.  I  propose  to  go  to  the  house  of  the 
Howards,  and  I  need  an  excuse  for  the  first  visit ;  therefore  I  shall 
forage  to  a  limited  extent.  I  go  ostensibly  for  bread.  As  I  may  not 
get  any,  you  perhaps  should  brin^  some  from  whatever  farm-house  you 
choose  as  the  scene  of  your  operations.  Bread  is  always  handy  in  camp, 
fresh  or  stale.  When  in  doubt,  buy  more  bread.  You  can  never  go 
wrong,  and  the  bread  won't." 

"What  else  should  I  get  ?     Milk,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  Certainly,  eggs,  butter, — anything.  Mrs.  Bartlett  will  give  you 
hints  on  what  to  get  that  will  be  more  valuable  than  mine." 

"  Have  you  all  the  cooking-utensils  you  need  ?" 


.0^ 


f 


i^i^aariMli 


omm 


:sj.y4maatefe>. 


it.    Afterwardii, 

re.  Know  that 
Jt  lend  itoelf  to 
Let  dogri  de- 
ueruIouH  nature 
tnesB.  Nothing 
raping  out,  as  a 
Do  you  follow 


le  dishes.     We 


friend  with  re- 

esolved  to  force 

That's  no  fair 


eanness  m  your 
hat  people  who 
y  their  fellow- 
ih  dishes." 

en  I  suggested 
Iplomaoy  about 
I,  when  you  act 
uld  have  said, 
e  been  lovely ; 

ts  in  life  when 
h  the  dishes  r 

sure  of  getting 
te  to  be  agreed 

foraging,  you 

e  house  of  the 
srefore  I  shall 
As  I  may  not 
■irm- house  you 
landy  in  camp, 
1  can  never  go 


will  give  you 
le." 


IN  TEE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.'* 


161 


"  I  think  Hu.  The  villain  from  whom  [  hired  the  outfit  said  it  waa 
complete.     Doubtless  h»  Hud;  but  we'll  mauugc,  I  think." 

*<  Very  well.  If  you  wait  until  I  change  my  clothes,  I'll  go  with 
you  as  far  as  the  road." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  be  advised  and  don't  change.  You'll  get  every- 
thing twenty  per  cent,  cheaper  in  that  rig-out.  Besides,  you  are  so 
much  more  picturesque.  Your  costume  may  save  us  from  starvation  if 
we  run  short  of  cash.  You  can  get  enouzh  for  both  of  us  as  a  pro- 
fessional tramp.  Ob,  well,  if  you  insist,  I'll  wait.  Good  advice  is 
thrown  away  on  a  man  like  you." 


CHAPTER  VI. 


The  blessed  privilege  of  skipping  is,  to  the  reader  of  a  story,  one 
of  those  liberties  worth  flghtina  for.  Without  it,  who  would  be  brave 
enough  to  begin  a  book  ?  With  it,  even  the  dullest  volume  may  he 
made  passably  interesting.  It  must  have  occurred  to  the  observant 
reader  that  this  world  might  be  made  brighter  and  better  if  authors 
would  only  leave  out  what  must  be  skipped.  This  the  successful 
author  will  not  do,  for  he  thinks  highly  of  himself,  and  if  the  unsuo- 
cessful  author  did  it  it  would  not  matter,  for  be  is  not  read. 

The  reader  of  thia  story  has,  of  course,  come  to  no  portion  that  invites 
skipping.  She — or  he — has  read  faithfully  up  to  these  very  words. 
This  most  happy  state  of  things  has  been  brought  about  first  by  the 
intelligence  of  the  reader  and  secondly  b)  the  conscientiousness  of  the 
writer.  The  mutual  co-operation  so  charmingly  continued  thus  far 
encourages  the  writer  to  ask  a  favor  of  the  reader.  The  story  now 
enters  a  i)eriod  that  Mr.  Yates  would  describe  m  stirring.  To  compare 
small  things  with  great,  its  course  might  be  likened  to  that  of  the 
noble  river  near  which  its  scene  is  situated.  The  Niagara  flows 
placidly  along  for  miles  and  then  suddenly  plunges  down  a  succession 
of  turbulent  rapids  to  the  final  catastrophe.  If  the  writer  were  a 
novelist,  instead  of  a  simple  reporter  of  certain  events,  there  would  be 
no  need  of  asking  the  indulgence  of  the  reader.  If  the  writer  were 
dealing  with  creatures  of  his  own  imagination,  instead  of  with  fized 
facts,  these  creatures  could  be  made  to  do  this  or  that  as  best  suited  his 
purposes.  Such,  however,  is  not  the  case ;  and  the  exciting  events  that 
must  be  narrated  claim  precedence  over  the  placid  happenings  which, 
with  a  iittle  help  from  the  reader's  imagination,  may  be  taken  as  read. 
The  reader  is  therefore  to  know  that  four  written  chapters  which 
should  have  intervened  between  this  and  the  one  preceding  have  been 
sacrificed.  But  a  few  lines  are  necessary  to  show  the  state  of  things  at 
the  end  of  the  fourth  vanished  chapter.  When  people  are  thrown 
together,  especially  when  people  are  young,  the  mutual  relationship 
Existing  between  them  rarely  remains  stationary.  It  driils  towards 
like  or  dislike,  and  cas^  have  been  known  where  it  progressed  into 
love  or  hatred. 

Stillson  Benmark  and  Margaret  Howard  became,  at  least,  very  firm 
friends.     Each  of  them  would  have  been  ready  to  admit  this  much. 

Vol.  LII.— 11 


162 


**IN  THK  MIDST  OF  ALARMS" 


III  the  four  cliantcrx  which,  hy  uii  iiiifiirtiitiatf  nombiniuiun  of  cironm" 
HtanoeH,  are  hmt  to  tho  world,  it  wuiild  have  lH>t>ii  wen  huw  theno  two 
had  at  UaHt  a  ^(mmI  foiiiKiation  on  which  to  luihi  up  an  a(t}iiaintanoo 
in  the  fact  liiat  Margaret's  brother  wiih  a  fltiuiont  in  tho  univentitv  of 
which  the  profesMor  wan  a  wortliy  nK^mlxir.  They  had  aliM)  a  Buujeot 
of  difference  which,  if  it  leadn  not  to  heattnl  iirKHtuent  but  ia  m)berly 
diwuflwid,  IcikIh  ithtdf  even  more  to  the  building  of  friendnhip  than 
HiibJeotH  of  a((r«ement.  Margaret  hehl  that  it  weh  wrong  in  the  uni- 
versity to  cloHe  itH  d(M)r8  to  women.  Ben  mark  had  hitherto  given  the 
Bub|e(!t  but  little  thought,  yet  he  devel<i|)ed  an  opinion  contrary  to  that 
of  Margaret  and  waa  too  iioiiCHt  a  man  or  t(K>  little  of  a  diplo;natittt  to 
conceal  it.  On  one  ocouiion  YateH  had  been  present,  and  he  threw 
himself,  with  tho  energy  that  diHtinguiHliMl  him,  into  the  woman  Hide 
.>f  the  question,  cordially  agreeing  with  Margaret,  citing  iuHtanceM  and 
holding  those  who  were  against  the  admission  of  women  up  to  ridicule, 
taunting  them  with  fear  of  feminine  competition.  Mamaret  became 
silent  as  the  champion  of  her  cause  waxe<l  the  more  eloquent ;  but 
whether  she  liked  Richard  Yates  the  better  for  his  championship,  who 
that  is  not  versed  in  the  ways  of  women  can  say  ?  As  the  hope  of 
winning  her  regard  was  the  sole  basis  of  Yates's  uncompromising  views 
on  the  subject,  it  is  likely  that  he  was  successful,  for  his  experiences 
with  the  sex  were  l&rge  and  varied.  Margaret  was  certainly  attracted 
towards  Renmark,  wnose  deep  scholarship  even  his  excessive  self- 
depi-eciation  could  not  entirely  ccmcca!,  and  he  in  turn  had  naturally 
a  school-inaoter's  enthusiasm  over  a  pupil  who  so  earnestly  desired 
advancement  in  knowledge.  Had  he  described  his  feelings  to  Yates, 
who  was  an  ex|)ert  in  many  matters,  he  would  perhaps  have  learned 
that  he  was  in  love  ;  but  Reiiinark  was  a  reti(vi)t  man,  not  much  given 
either  to  introspection  or  to  being  lavish  with  his  confidences.  As 
to  Margaret,  who  can  plummet  the  depth  of  a  young  girl's  regard 
until  Hhe  herself  gives  some  indication?  All  that  a  re|K)rter  has  to 
record  is  that  she  was  kinder  to  Yates  than  she  had  been  at  the 
beginning. 

Miss  Kitty  Bartlett  probably  would  not  have  denia  ,..at  she  had 
a  sincere  liking  for  the  conceited  young  man  from  Nev  York.  Ren- 
mark fell  into  the  error  of  thinking  Miss  Kitty  a  frivolous  young  per- 
son, whereas  she  was  merely  a  girl  who  had  an  inexhaustible  funa  of 
high  spirits  and  one  who  took  a  most  deplorable  pleasure  in  shocking  a 
serious  man.  Even  Yates  made  a  slight  mistake  regarding  her  on  one 
occasion,  when  they  were  having  an  evening  walk  tc^ther,  with  that 
freedom  from  chaperonage  which  is  the  birthright  of  every  American 
girl,  whether  she  belongs  to  a  farm-house  or  to  the  palace  of  a  mil- 
lionaire. 

In  describing  the  incident  afterwanls  to  Renmark  (for  Yates  had 
nothing  of  his  comrade's  reserve  in  these  matters)  he  said, — 

"  She  lefb  a  diagram  of  her  four  fingers  on  my  oheek  that  felt  like 
one  of  those  raised  majw  of  Switzerland.  I  have  before  now  felt  the 
tap  of  a  lady's  fan  in  admonition,  but  never  in  my  life  have  I  met  a 
gentle  reproof  that  felt  so  much  like  a  censure  from  the  paw  of  our 
friend  Tom  Sayers." 


i 


ItfittiiMIMIilflii 


IN  THK  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


168 


on  of  clronm" 

low  tlltJMC  two 

1  u(;(iiiaintaiiae 
univcrHitv  of 
hIm)  h  Hiibjcot 
but  iit  Moberly 
iendhliip  tlian 
ig  in  the  uni- 
srto  ){iv(>n  the 
Hitrary  to  that 
(liploinatiat  to 
and  ho  threw 
(!  woman  Huie 
inBtances  and 
up  to  ridicule, 
rgaret  became 
eloquent;   but 
pionahip,  who 
8  the  ho|)e  of 
■omiaing  views 
18  experienoes 
liniy  attracted 
Bxcewive  self- 
had  naturally 
noHtiy  desired 
ings  to  Yates, 
have  learned 
>t  much  given 
fidences.      As 
girl's  regard 
j)orter  has  to 
been  at  the 

...at  she  had 
York.  Rea- 
ls young  per- 
itible  fund  of 
in  shocking  a 
ig  her  on  one 
ler,  with  that 
iry  American 
etoe  of  a  mil- 

MT  Yates  bad 

hat  felt  like 

now  felt  the 

lave  I  met  a 

e  paw  of  our 


Rcninitrk  said,  with  some  M'verity,  thnt  he  V.o\yfA  Yates  would  n(»t 
forget  that  \w  woh,  in  a  measure,  a  guest  of  his  noighlHtrH. 

"  Oh,  (hai't  all  right,"  Kaid  Yates.  "  If  you  have  any  n|>ar«  sym- 
pathy to  iMMtow,  keep  it  for  me.  My  neighlN)rH  are  amply  able  and 
more  than  willing  to  take  nure  of  theniHelvcH." 

And  now  as  to  Richard  Yates  himself.  One  would  imagine  thai 
hert!  at  least  a  oonM!i<>ntiouH  relator  (»f  eventH  would  have  an  nwy  tank. 
Alas  I  HU<!h  is  far  from  Ufing  the  fatrt.  The  (»se  of  Yaltn  was  by  all 
odds  the  most  (X)mplex  and  bewildering  of  the  four.  He  was  deeply 
and  truly  in  love  with  both  of  the  girls.  luHtantrcH  of  thin  kind  are 
not  so  rare  as  a  young  man  newly  engage<l  t«»  an  intiooent  girl  tries  to 
make  her  believe.  Cases  have  been  known  where  a  chance  meeting 
with  one  girl  and  not  with  unoi.ier  has  settled  who  was  to  be  a  young 
man's  compujiion  during  a  long  life.  Yates  felt  that  in  multitude  of 
cxiunttel  there  is  witMlom,  and  made  no  secret  of  his  i)erplexity  to  his 
friend.  He  complained  Nometimcs  that  he  got  little  help  towards  the 
solution  of  the  problem,  but  gtuierally  he  was  quite  content  to  sit  under 
the  trees  with  Renmark  and  weigh  the  different  advantages  of  each 
of  the  girls.  He  sometimes  ap|)ealed  to  his  friend  as  a  man  with  a 
mathematical  turn  of  mind,  |K>sses8ing  an  education  that  extended  far 
into  conic  sections  and  algebraic  formulse,  to  balance  up  the  lists 
and  give  him  a  candid  and  statistical  opinioik  as  to  which  of  the  two  h« 
should  favor  with  serious  proposals.  When  these  appeals  for  help 
were  coldly  receive<l,  he  accused  his  friend  of  lack  of  sympatliy  with 
his  dilemma,  said  that  he  was  a  wjulless  man,  and  that  it  he  had  a 
heart  it  had  beoome  incrusted  with  the  useless  d6bris  of  a  higher  edu- 
cation, and  swore  to  confide  in  him  no  more.  He  would  seanih  for  a 
friend,  he  said,  who  had  something  human  about  him.  The  search  for 
the  sympathetic  friend,  however,  seemed  to  be  unsuccessful,  for  Yates 
always  returned  to  Renmark,  to  have,  as  he  remarked,  ice-water 
dashed  upon  his  duplex-burning  passion. 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1866,  and 
Yates  was  swinging  idly  in  the  hammock,  with  his  hands  clasped 
under  his  head,  gazing  dreamily  up  at  the  patches  of  blue  sky  seen 
through  the  green  branches  of  the  trees  overhead,  while  his  industrious 
friend  was  unromantically  peeling  potatoes  near  the  door  of  the  tent. 

"  The  human  heart,  Renny,"  said  the  man  in  the  hammock,  re- 
flectively, "  is  a  remarkable  organ,  when  you  come  to  think  of  it.  I 
presume  from  your  lack  of  interest  that  you  haven't  given  the  subject 
much  study,  except  perhaps  in  a  physiological  way.  At  the  present 
moment  it  is  to  me  the  only  theme  worthy  of  a  man's  entire  attention. 
Perhaps  that  is  the  result  of  spring,  as  the  poet  says ;  but  anyhow  it 
presents  new  aspects  to  me  each  hour.  Now^  I  have  made  this  im- 
portant discovery,  that  the  girl  I  am  with  last  seems  to  me  the  most 
desirable.  That  is  contrary  to  the  observation  of  philosophers  of  by- 
gone days.  Absence  makes  the  heart  grow  fonder,  they  say,  I  don't 
find  it  so.  Presence  is  what  plays  the  very  deuce  with  me.  Now,  how 
do  you  accouut  for  it,  Stilly  ? 

The  professor  did  not  attempt  to  account  for  it,  but  silently  at- 
tended to  the  business  in  hand.     Yates  withdrew  his  eyes  from  the  sky 


ra 


mSBM 


164 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


n 


and  fixed  them  on  the  professor,  waiting  for  the  answer  that  did  not 
come. 

"  Mr.  Renmark,"  he  drawled  at  last,  *'  I  am  convinced  that  your 
treatment  of  the  potato  is  a  mistake.  I  think  potatoes  should  not  be 
peeled  the  day  before  and  left  to  soak  in  cold  water  until  next  day's 
dinner.  Of  course  I  admire  the  industry  that  gets  work  well  over 
before  its  results  are  called  for.  Nothing  is  more  annoying  than  work 
left  untouched  until  the  last  moment  and  then  hurriedly  done.  Still, 
virtue  may  be  carried  to  excess,  and  a  man  may  be  too  previous." 

"  Well,  I  am  quite  willing  to  relinquish  the  work  into  your  hands. 
You  may  perhaps  remember  that  for  two  days  I  have  been  doing  your 
share  as  well  as  my  own." 

"  Ob,  I  am  not  complaining  about  tiuH,  at  all,"  said  the  hammock, 
magnanimously.  "  You  are  acquiring  practical  knowledge,  Benny, 
that  will  be  of  more  use  to  you  than  all  the  learning  taught  at  the 
schools.  My  only  desire  is  that  your  education  should  be  as  complete 
as  possible;  and  to  this  end  I  am  willing  to  subordinate  my  own 
yearning  desire  for  scullery-work.  I  should  suggest  that  instead  of 
going  to  the  trouble  of  entirely  removing  the  covering  of  the  potato 
m  that  laborious  way  you  should  merely  peel  a  belt  around  the  greatest 
circumference  of  the  potato.  Then,  rather  than  cook  them  in  the  slow 
And  so^y  manner  that  seems  to  delight  you,  you  should  boil  them 
quickly,  with  some  salt  placed  in  the  water.  The  remaining  coat 
would  then  curl  outward,  and  the  resulcing  potato  would  be  white  and 
dry  and  mealy,  instead  of  being  in  the  condition  of  a  wet  sponge." 

"  The  beauty  of  a  precept,  Yates,  is  the  illustrating  of  it.  If  you 
are  not  satisfied  with  my  way  of  boiling  pv>uitoes,  give  me  a  practical 
object-lesson." 

The  man  in  the  hammock  sighed  reproachfully. 

"Of  course  an  unimaginative  person  like  }uu,  Renmark,  cannot 
realize  the  cruelty  of  suggesting  that  a  man  as  deeply  in  love  as  I  am 
should  demean  himself  by  attending  to  the  prosaic  details  of  household 
affairs.  I  am  doubly  in  love,  and  much  more,  therefore,  as  that  old 
bore  Euclid  used  to  say,  is  your  suggestion  unkind  ar  \  uncalled  for." 

"  All  right :  then  don't  criticise." 

"  Yes,  there  is  a  certain  sweet  reasonableness  in  your  curt  suggestion. 
A  man  who  is  unable  or  unwilling  to  work  in  the  vineyard  should  not 
find  fault  with  the  pickers.  And  now,  Renuy,  for  the  hundredth  time 
of  asking,  add  to  the  many  obligations  already  conferred,  and  tell  me, 
like  the  good  fellow  you  are,  what  you  would  do  if  you  were  in  my 
place.  To  which  of  those  two  charming  but  totally  unlike  girls  would 
you  give  the  preference?" 

"  Damn  !    said  the  professor,  quietly. 

"  Hello,  Renny !"  cried  Yates,  raising  his  head.  ''  Have  you  cut 
your  finger  ?     I  should  have  warned  you  about  using  too  sharp  a  knife." 

But  the  professor  had  not  cut  his  finger.  His  us^  of  the  word 
given  above  is  not  to  be  defended;  still,  as  it  was  spoken  by  him,  it 
seemed  to  ^ose  all  relationship  with  sweariag.  He  said  it  quietly, 
mildly,  and,  in  a  certain  sense,  innocently.  He  was  astonished  at  him- 
self for  using  it,  but  there  had  been  moments  during  the  past  few  days 


Mil 


iwer  that  did  not 

ivinoed  that  your 
)es  should  not  be 
until  next  day's 
i  work  well  over 
noyiug  than  work 
iedly  done.  Still, 
K)  previous." 
I  into  your  hands. 
e  been  doing  your 

aid  the  hammock, 
aowledge,  Renny, 
ng  taught  at  the 
Id  be  as  complete 
ordinate  my  own 
t  that  instead  of 
'ing  of  the  potato 
round  the  greatest 
:  them  in  the  slow 
should  boil  them 
e  remaining  coat 
)uld  be  white  and 
X  wet  sponge." 
ng  of  it.  If  you 
ive  me  a  practical 


Ren  mark,  cannot 
ly  in  love  as  I  am 
itails  of  household 
■efore,  as  that  old 
p '  uncalled  for." 

iir  curt  suggestion, 
neyard  should  not 
le  hundredth  time 
rred,  and  tell  me, 
■  you  were  in  my 
unlike  girls  would 


'■'  Have  you  cut 
too  sharp  a  knife." 

us^  of  the  word 
spoken  by  him,  it 
]e  said  it  quietly, 
istonished  at  him- 
the  past  few  days 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


16ft 


when  the  ordinary  expletives  used  in  the  learned  volumes  of  higher 
mathematics  did  not  fit  the  occasion^ 

Before  anything  more  could  be  said,  there  was  a  shout  from  the 
road-way  near  them. 

"  Is  Richard  Yates  there  ?"  hailed  the  voice. 

"  Yes.  Who  wants  him  ?"  cried  Yates,  springing  out  of  the  ham- 
mock. 

"  I  do,"  said  a  young  fellow  on  horseback.  He  threw  himself  off 
a  tired  horse,  tial  tho  animal  to  a  sapling,— which,  judging  by  the 
horse's  condition,  was  an  entirely  unnecessary  operation,— jumped  over 
the  rail  fence,  and  approached  through  the  trees.  The  young  men 
saw  coming  towards  them  a  tall  lad  in  the  uniform  of  the  tel^raph- 
service. 

"  I'm  Yates.     What  is  it  ?" 

"Well,"  said  the  lad,  "I've  had  »' hunt  and  a  half  for  you. 
Here's  a  telegram." 

"How  in  the  world  did  you  find  out  where  I  was?  Nobody  has 
my  address." 

"  That's  just  the  trouble.  It  would  have  saved  somebody  in  New 
York  a  pile  of  money  if  you  had  hft  your  address.  No  man  ought  to 
p  to^  the  woods  without  leaving  his  address  at  a  telegraph-office,  any- 
how. The  young  man  looked  at  the  world  from  a  telegraph  point  of 
view.  People  were  good  or  bad  according  to  the  trouble  they  gave  a 
telegraph-messenger.  Yates  took  the  yellow  envelope  addressed  in 
lead-pencil,  but,  without  opening  it,  repeated  his  question : 

"But  how  on  earth  did  you  find  me?" 

"Well,  it  wasn't  easy,"  said  the  boy.  "My  horse  is  about  done 
out.  I  m  from  Buffalo.  They  telegraphed  from  New  York  that  we 
were  to  spare  no  expense ;  and  we  haven't.  There  are  seven  other 
fellows  scouring  the  country  on  ho^eback  with  duplicat<»  of  that  de- 
8ratch,and  some  more  have  gone  ai.ng  the  lake  si\ore  on  the  Amerioau 
side.  Say,  no  other  messenger  has  been  here  before  me,  has  he?" 
asked  the  boy,  with  a  touch  of  anxiety  in  his  voice. 

"No;  you  are  the  fir^t." 

"  I'm  glad  of  that.    I've  been  'most  all  over  Canada.     I  got  on 
your  trail  about  two  hours  ago,  and  the  folks  at  the  farm-house  down 
hilovr  said  you  were  up  here.     Is  there  any  answer  ?" 
^     Yates  tore  open  the  envelope.    The  despatch  was  long,  and  he  read 
It  ^ith  a  deepening  frown.     It  was  to  this  effect  : 

"  Fenians  crossing  into  Canada  ac  Buffalo.  You  are  near  the  spot  • 
get  there  quick  as  possible.  Five  of  our  men  leave  for  Buffalo  to^ 
night.  General  O'Neill  is  in  command  of  Fenian  army.  He  will  give 
you  every  facility  when  you  tell  him  who  yojj  are.  When  five  arrive 
tney  will  report  to  you.  Place  one  or  two  with  Canadian  troops. 
Ciet  one  to  hold  the  telegraph-wire,  and  send  over  all  the  stuff  tlie  wire 
will  ^rry.     Draw  on  us  for  cash  you  need  ;  and  don't  spare  expense." 

When  Yates  finished  the  reading  of  this  he  broke  forth  into  a  line  " 
of   language  that  astonished  Renmark  and  drew  forth   the  envious 
admiration  of  the  Buffalo  telegraph-boy. 

'  Heavens  and  earth  and  the  lower  regions  I    I'm  here  on  my  vac*- 


I 


166 


m  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


'  51 


S*°'.  «r.°°^  ^'"^  ^  J"*"?  '"*°  '^O'*^  ^*"*  a"  '•»«  Papere  in  New 
York.  Why  couldu't  those  fools  of  Fenians  stay  at  home?  The 
idiots  don't  know  when  they'i-o  well  off.    The  Fenians  be  hanged  !" 

"Guess  that's  what  they  will  be,"  said  the  telegraph-boy.  "Any 
ai ewer,  sir?"  or/  j 

"  No.     Tell  'em  you  couldn't  find  me." 

"Don't  expect  the  boy  to  tell  a  lie,"  said  the  professor,  speaking 
for  the  first  time.  '   r         s 

„  "P^'  1,^°°'*'  '?'"*^  *  ^'^'"  exclaimed  the  bdj,  "but  not  that  one. 
No,  sir.  I  ve  had  too  much  trouble  finding  you.  I'm  not  going  to 
p^tend  I'm  no  good.  I  started  out  for  to  find  you,  and  I  have.  But 
1 11  tell  any  other  lie  you  like,  Mr.  Yates,  if  it  will  oblige  you." 

Yates  recognized  in  the  boy  the  same  emulous  desire  to  outstrip  his 
fellows  that  had  influenced  hijnself  when  he  was  a  young  reporter,  and 
he  at  once  admitted  the  injustice  of  attempting  to  deprive  him  of  the 
fruits  of  his  enterprise. 

"No,"  he  said,  "that  won't  do.  No;  you  have  found  me,  and 
you  re  a  young  fellow  who  will  be  president  of  the  Telegraph  Com- 
pany some  day,  or  perhaps  hold  the  less  important  office  of  the  United 
States  Presidency.     Who  knows?    Have  you  a  tel^raph-blank ?" 

"Of  course,"  said  the  Imy,  fishing  out  a  bundle  from  the  leathern 
wallet  by  his  side.  Yates  took  the  {wper  and  flung  himself  down 
under  the  tree. 

"  Here's  a  pencil,"  said  the  messenger. 

"  A  newspaper-man  is  never  without  a  pencil,  thank  you,"  replied 
Yates,  taking  one  out  of  his  inside  pocket. 

"  Now,  Renmark,  I'm  not  going  to  tell  a  lie  on  this  occasion," 
continued  Yates. 

"  I  think  the  truth  is  better  on  all  occasions." 

"  Right  you  are.    So  here  goes  for  the  solid  truth." 

Yates  as  he  lay  on  the  ground  wrote  rapidly  on  the  telegraph- 
blank.  Suddenly  he  looked  up  and  said  to  the  professor,  "  Say,  Ren- 
mark, are  you  a  doctor  ?" 

"  Of  laws,"  replied  his  friend. 

"  Oh,  that  will  do  just  as  well."     And  he  finished  his  writing. 

"  How  is    lis  ?"  he  cried,  holding  the  paper  at  arm's  length. 

"  John  A.  Bellington, 

"  Managing  Editor  Argus,  New  York. 

"  I'm  flat  on  my  back.  Haven't  done  a  hand's  turn  for  a  week. 
Am  under  the  constant  care,  night  and  day,  of  one  of  the  most  eminent 
doctors  in  Canada,  who  even  prepares  my  food  for  me.  Since  I  left 
New  York  trouble  of  the  heart  has  complicated  matters,  and  at  present 
baffles  the  doctor.  Consultations  daily.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to 
move  from  here  until  present  complications  have  yielded  to  treatment. 

"  Binmore  would  be  a  good  man  to  take  charge  in  my  absence. 

"  Yates." 

"There,"  said  Yates,  with  a  tone  of  satisfaction,  when  he  had 
finished  the  reading.    "  What  do  you  think  of  that?" 


te 


1 


tapers  in  New 
home?    The 
«  hanged !" 
i-boy.    "  Any 


issor,  npeaking 

not  that  one. 
1  not  going  to 

I  have.    But 
ge  you." 
to  outstrip  his 
J  reporter,  and 
ive  him  of  the 

bund  me,  and 
tlegraph  Com- 

of  the  United 
>h.blank?" 
u  the  leathern 

himself  down 


you,"  replied 
:his  occasion," 


:he  telegraph- 
«  Say,  Ren- 


writing, 
ength. 


for  a  week. 

most  eminent 

Since  I  left 

tnd  at  present 

)le  for  me  to 

to  treatment. 

absence. 

"  Yates." 

vrhen  he  had 


''IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS' 


167 


The  professor  frowned,  but  did  not  answer.  The  boy,  who  partly 
saw  through  it,  but  not  quite,  grinned,  and  said,  "  Is  it  true?" 

"Of  course  it's  truel"  crieid  Yates,  indignant  at  the  unjust  sus- 
picion. "  It  is  a  great  deal  more  true  than  you  have  any  idea  of.  Ask 
the  doctor  there  if  it  isn't  true.  Now,  my  boy,  will  you  give  in  this 
y:  when  you  get  back  to  the  oflBce?  Tell  'em  to  rush  it  through  to  New 
York.  I  would  mark  it  *  rush,'  only  that  never  does  any  good  and 
always  makes  the  operator  mnd." 

The  boy  took  the  paper  and  put  it  in  his  wallet. 

"  It's  to  be  paid  for  at  the  other  end,"  continued  Yates. 

"Oh,  that's  all  right,"  answered  the  messenger,  with  a  certain 
condescension,  as  if  he  were  giving  credit  on  behalf  of  the  comnany. 
"  Well,  so  long,"  he  added.  "1  hope  you'll  soon  be  better,  Mr. 
Yates." 

Yates  sprang  to  his  feet  with  a  laugh  and  followed  him  to  the 
fence. 

"Now,  youngster,  you  are  up  to  snuff,  I  can  see  that.  They'll 
perhaps  question  you  when  you  get  back.     What  will  you  say?" 

"  Oh,  I'll  tell  'em  what  a  hard  job  I  had  to  find  you,  and  let  'em 
know  nobody  else  could  'i'  done  it,  and  I'll  say  you're  a  pretty  sick 
man.     I  won't  tell  'em  you  gave  me  a  dollar." 

"  Bight  you  are,  sonny  ;  you'll  get  along.  Here's  five  dollars,  all 
in  oi.e  bill.  If  you  meet  any  other  of  the  messengers,  take  them  back 
with  you.  There's  no  use  of  their  wasting  valuable  time  in  this  little 
neck  of  the  woods." 

The  boy  stuffed  the  bill  into  his  vest-pocket  as  carelessly  as  if  it 
represented  cents  instead  of  dollars,  mounted  his  tired  horse,  and  waved 
his  hand  in  farewell  to  the  newspaper-man.  Yates  turned  and  walked 
slowly  back  to  the  tent.  He  threw  himself  once  more  into  the  ham- 
mock. As  he  expected,  the  professor  was  more  taciturn  than  ever,  and, 
although  he  had  been  prepared  for  silence,  the  silence  irritated  him. 
He  felt  ill  used  at  having  so  unsympathetic  a  companion. 

"  Look  here,  Renmark,  why  don't  you  say  something  ?" 

"  There  is  nothing  to  say." 

"  Oh,  yes,  there  is.     You  don't  approve  of  me,  do  you  ?" 

"  I  don't  suppose  it  makes  any  diHerence  whether  I  approve  or 
not." 

"Oh,  yes,  it  does.  A  man  likes  to  have  the  approval  of  even  the 
humblest  of  his  fellow-creatures.  Say,  what  will  you  take  in  cash  to 
approve  of  me?  People  talk  of  the  tortures  of  conscience,  but  you 
are  more  uncomfortable  than  the  most  cast-iron  conscience  any  man 
ever  had  One's  own  conscience  one  can  deal  with,  but  a  conscience  in 
the  person  of  another  man  is  beyond  one'tcontrol.  Now,  it  is  like 
this.  I  am  here  for  quiet  and  rest.  I  have  earned  both,  and  I  think 
I  am  justified  in 

"  Now,  Mr.  Yates,  please  spare  rae  any  cheap  philosophy  on  the- 
question.     I  am  tired  of  it." 

"  And  of  me  too,  I  suppose?" 

"  Well,  yes,  rather, — if  you  want  to  know." 

Yates  sprang  out  of  the  hammock.     For  the  first  time  since  the 


'  ^^^"'I'ilK^*'*;^^;-;^^?^; 


#■ 


Mi 


168 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


in 


encounter  with  Bartlett  on  the  road,  Renmark  saw  that  he  was  thor- 
oughly angry.  The  reporter  stood  with  clinched  fist  and  flashing  eye, 
hesitating.  The  other,  his  heavy  brows  drawn  down,  while  not  in  an 
aggressive  attitude,  was  plainly  ready  for  an  attack.  Yates  concluded 
to  speak  and  not  strike.  This  was  not  because  he  was  afraid  tor  he 
was  not  a  coward.  The  reporter  realized  that  he  had  forced  the  con- 
versation, and  remembered  he  had  invited  Renmark  to  accr>mpany 
him.  Although  this  recollection  stayed  his  hand,  it  had  no  eiFect  on 
his  tongue. 

"  I  believe,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  that  it  would  do  you  good  for  once 
to  hear  a  straight,  square,  unbiassed  opinion  of  yourself;  You  have 
associated  so  long  with  pupils,  to  whom  your  word  is  law,  that  it  may 
interest  you  to  know  what  a  man  of  the  world  thinks  of  you.  A  few 
years  of  schoolmastering  is  enough  to  spoil  a  Gladstone.  Now,  I 
think,  of  all  the " 

The  sentence  was  interrupted  by  a  cry  from  the  fence : 

"Say,  do  you  gentlemen  know  where  a  fellow  named  Yates  lives?" 

The  reporter's  hand  dropped  to  his  side.  A  look  of  dismay  came 
over  his  face,  and  his  truculent  manner  changed  with  a  suddenness  that 
forced  a  smile  even  to  the  stern  lips  of  Renmark. 

Yates  backed  towards  the  hammock  like  a  man  who  had  received 
an  unexpected  blow. 

**  I  say,  Renny,"  he  wailed,  "  it's  another  of  thost  cursed  telegraph- 
messengers.  Go,  like  a  good  fellow,  and  sign  for  the  despatch.  Sign 
it  'Dr.  Renmark,  for  R.  Yates.'  That  will  give  it  a  sort  of  official 
medical-bulletin  look.  I  wish  I  had  thought  of  that  when  the  other 
boy  was  here.  Tell  him  I'm  lying  dorwn."  He  flung  himself  into 
the  hammock,  and  Renmark,  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  walked 
towards  the  boy  at  the  fence,  who  had  repeated  his  question  in  a  louder 
voice.  In  a  short  time  he  returned  with  the  yellow  envelope,  which 
he  tossed  to  the  man  in  the  hammock.  Yat(<8  seissed  it  savagely,  tore 
it  into  a  score  of  pieces,  and  scattered  the  fluttering  bits  around  him 
on  the  ground.  The  professor  stood  there  for  a  few  moments  in 
silence. 

"  Perhaps,"  he  said  at  last,  "  you'll  be  good  enough  to  go  on  with 
your  remarks." 

"  I  was  merely  going  to  say,"  answered  Yates,  wearily,  "  that  you 
are  a  mighty  good  fellow,  Renny.  People  who  camp  out  always  have 
rows.  This  is  our  first;  suppose  we  let  it  be  the  last.  Camping  out 
is  something  like  married  life,  I  guess,  and  requires  some  forbearance 
on  all  sides.  That  philosophy  may  be  cheap,  out  I  think  it  is  accu- 
rate. I  am  really  very  worried  about  this  newspaper  business.  I 
ought,  of  course,  to  fling  myself  into  the  chasm  like  that  Roman  fellow,' 
but,  hang  it,  I've  been  flinging  myself  into  chasms  for  fifteen  years, 
and  what  good  has  it  done?  There's  always  a  crisis  in  a  daily  news- 
paper office.  I  want  them  to  understand  in  the  Argus  office  that  I  am 
on  my  vacation." 

"They  will  be  more  apt  to  understand  from  the  telegram  that 
you're  on  your  death-bed." 

Yates  laughed.    "  That's  so,"  he  said  j  "  but  you  see,  Renny,  we 


# 


he  was  thor- 
flashing  eye, 
lile  not  in  an 
tes  concluded 
afraid  i'or  he 
>roeJ  the  oon- 
to  accompany 
i  no  efect  on 

good  for  once 
:.  You  have 
',  that  it  may 
you.  A  few 
»ne.     No^,  I 


Yates  lives?" 
f  dismay  came 
iddeuness  that 

had  received 

Bed  telegraph- 
spatch.  Sign 
lort  of  official 
hen  the  other 
:  himself  into 
ation,  walked 
)n  in  a  louder 
velope,  which 
savagely,  tore 
s  around  him 
moments  in 

to  go  on  with 

y,  "  that  you 
t  always  have 

Camping  out 
He  forbearance 

k  it  is  aocu- 

business.  I 
loman  fellow, 

fifteen  years, 
a  daily  news- 
Bee  that  I  am 

«legram  that 

26,  Benny,  we 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


169 


New-Yorkers  live  in  such  an  atmosphere  of  exaggeration,  and  if  I  did 
not  put  it  strongly  it  wouldn't  have  any  effect.  You've  got  to  give  a 
big  close  to  a  man  who  has  been  taking  poison  all  his  life.  They  will 
take  off  ninety  per  cent,  from  any  statement  I  make,  anyhow,  so  you 
see  I  have  to  pile  it  up  pretty  high  before  the  remaining  ten  per  cent, 
amounts  to  anything.'' 

The  conversation  was  interrupted  by  the  crackling  of  the  dry  twigs 
behind  them,  and  Yates,  who  had  been  keeping  his  eye  nervously  un 
the  fence,  turned  around.  Young  Bartlett  pushed  his  way  through  the 
underbrush.     His  face  was  red  ;  he  had  evidently  been  running. 

**  Two  tel^rams  for  you,  Mr.  Yates,"  he  panted.  "  The  fellows 
that  brought  'em  said  they  were  important :  so  I  ran  out  with  them 
myself,  for  fear  they  wouldn't  find  you.  One  of  them's  from  Port 
Colborne,  the  other's  from  Buffalo." 

Telegrams  were  rare  on  the  farm,  and  young  Bartlett  looked  on  the 

-r  receipt  of  one  as  an  event  in  a  man's  life.     He  was  astonished  to  see 

^  Yates  receive  the  double  event  with  a  listlessness  that  he  could  not  help 

thinking  was  merely  assumed  for  effect.     Yates  held  his  hand,  and  did 

not  tear  them  up  at  once,  out  of  consideration  for  the  feelings  of  the 

young  man  who  had  had  a  race  to  deliver  them. 

"  Here's  two  books  they  wanted  you  to  sign.  They're  tired  out, 
.  and  mother's  giving  thetn  something  to  eat." 

"  Professor,  you  sign  for  me,  won't  you  ?"  said  Yates. 

Bartlett  lingered  a  moment,  hoping  that  he  would  hear  something 
of  the  contents  of  the  important  messages ;  but  Yates  did  not  even  tear 
open  the  envelopes,  although  he  thanked  the  young  man  heartily  for 
bringing  them. 

"  Stuck-up  cuss  I"  muttered  young  Bartlett  to  himself  as  he  shoved 
the  signed  books  into  his  pocket  and  pushed  his  way  through  the 
underbrush  again.  Yates  slowly  and  methodically  tore  the  envelopes 
and  their  contents  into  little  pieces  and  scattered  them  as  before. 

"  Begins  to  look  like  autumn,"  he  said,  "  with  the  yellow  leaves 
strewing  the  ground." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Bkfobe  night  three  more  telegraph-boys  found  Yates  and  three 
more  telegrams  in  sections  helped  to  carpet  the  floor  of  the  forest.  The 
usually  high  spirits  of  the  newspaper-man  went  down  and  down  under 
the  repeated  visitations.  At  last  he  did  not  even  swear,  which,  in  the 
case  of  Yates,  always  indicated  extreme  depression.  As  night  drew  on, 
he  feebly  remarked  to  the  p/ofessor  that  he  wjas  more  tired  than  he  had 
ever  been  in  going  through  an  election  campaign.  He  went  to  his 
tent-bunk  early,  in  a  state  of  such  utter  dejection  that  Benmark  felt 
sorry  for  him  and  tried  ineffectually  to  cheer  him  up. 

"if  they  would  all  come  together,"  said  Yates,  bitterly,  "so  that' 
one  comprehensive  effort  of  malediction  would  include  the  lot  and  have 
it  over,  it  wouldn't  be  so  bad  ;  but  this  constant  dribbling  in  of  mes- 
sengers would  wear  out  the  patience  of  a  saint" 


.^# 


170 


•'  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


As  he  sat  in  his  shirt-sleeves  on  the  edge  of  his  bunk,  Renmark 
said  that  things  would  look  brighter  in  the  morning, — which  was  a  safe 
remark  to  make,  for  the  night  was  dark. 

Yates  sat  silently  with  his  head  in  his  hands  for  some  moments. 
At  last  he  said,  slowly,  "  There  is  no  one  so  obtuse  as  the  thoroughly 
good  man.  It  is  not  the  raeasenger  I  am  afraid  of,  after  all.  lie  m 
but  the  outward  symptom  of  the  inward  trouble.  What  you  are  seeing 
is  an  example  of  the  workings  of  conscience,  where  you  thou^^ht  con- 
science was  absent.  The  trouble  with  me  is  that  I  know  the  news- 
paper depends  on  me,  and  that  it  will  be  the  first  time  I  have  failed. 
It  is  the  newspaper-man's  instinct  to  be  in  the  centre  of  the  fray.  Ho 
yearns  to  scoop  the  opposition  press.  I  will  get  a  night's  sleep  if  I 
can,  and  to-morrow  I  know  I  shall  capitulate.  I  will  hunt  out 
General  O'Neill  and  interview  him  ou  the  field  of  daughter.  I  will 
teWraph  columns.  I  will  refurbish  my  military  vocabulary,  and  speak 
of  deploying  and  massing  and  throwing  out  advance  guards,  and  that 
sort  of  thing.  I  will  move  columns  and  advance  bri^ides  and  invent 
strategy.  We  will  have  desperate  fighting  in  the  columns  of  the  Arffua, 
whatever  there  is  on  the  fields  of  Canada.  But  to  a  man  who  has  seen 
real  war  this  opfira-bouffe  masquerade  of  fighting — I  don't  want  to  say 
anything  harsh,  but  to  me  it  is  offensive." 

He  looked  up  with  a  wan  smile  at  his  partner  sitting  on  the  bottom  . 
of  an  upturned  pail  as  he  said  this.    Then  he  reached  for  his  hip-pocket 
and  drew  out  a  revolver,  which  he  handed  butt-end  forward  to  the 
professor,  who,  not  knowing  his  friend  carried  such  an  instrument, 
instinctively  shrank  from  it. 

''  Here,  Benny,  take  this  weapon  of  devastation  and  soak  it  with 
the  potatoes.  If  another  messenger  comes  in  on  me  to-night  I  know  I 
shall  riddle  him  if  I  have  this  handy.  My  better  judgment  tells  me 
he  is  innocent,  and  I  don't  want  to  shed  the  only  blood  that  will  be 
spilled  during  this  awful  campaign." 

How  long  they  had  been  asleep  they  did  not  know,  as  the  ghost- 
stories  have  it,  but  both  were  suddenly  awakened  by  a  commotion  out- 
side. It  was  intensely  dark  inside  the  tent,  but  as  the  two  sat  up  tliey 
noticed  a  faint  moving  blur  of  light  which  made  itself  just  visible 
through  the  canvas. 

"It's  another  of  those  fiendish  messengers,"  whispered  Yates. 
"Gimme  that  revolver." 

"  Hush  !"  said  the  other  below  his  breath.  "  There's  about  a  dozen 
men  out  there,  judging  by  the  footfalls.     I  heard  them  coming." 

"  Let's  fire  into  the  tent  and  be  done  with  it,"  said  a  voice  out- 
side. 

"No,  no,"  cried  another;  "no  man  shoot.  It  makes  too  much 
noise,  and  there  must  be  others  alwut.  Have  ye  all  got  yer  bayonets 
fixed?" 

There  was  a  murmur  apparently  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Very  well,  then.  Murphy  and  O'Rourick,  come  round  to  this 
side.  You  three  stay  where  you  are.  Tim,  you  go  to  that  end ;  and, 
T-  olin,  come  with  me." 

"  The  Fenian  army,  by  all  the  gods !"  whispered  Yates,  groping  for 


UiAM^MMI 


tmtk 


link,  Renmark 
lioh  was  a  safe 

9me  momenta 
he  thoroughly 
it  all.  Ke  H 
you  are  seeing 

thought  oon- 
low  the  newH- 

I  have  failed, 
the  fray.  Ho 
it's  sleep  if  I 
vill  hunt  out 
ghter.  I  will 
ary,  and  speak 
lards,  and  that 
les  and  invent 
i  of  the  Argiu, 
I  who  has  seen 
I't  want  to  say 

on  the  bottom 
his  hip-pocket 
>rward  to  the 
n  instrument, 

soak  it  with 
ght  I  know  I 
nent  tells  me 

that  will  be 

as  the  ghost- 
m  motion  out- 
0  sat  up  tliey 
f  just  visible 

ipered  Yates. 

ibout  a  dozen 
►ming." 
a  voice  out- 

;es  too  much 
yer  bayonets 


ound  to  this 
lat  end ;  and, 

I,  groping  for 


•<  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


171 


?:/. 


his  clothes.  "  Renny,  give  me  that  revolver,  and  I'll  show  you  more 
fun  than  a  funeral." 

"  No,  no.  They're  at  least  three  to  our  one.  We're  in  a  trap  here, 
and  helpless." 

"On,  just  let  me  jump  out  among 'em  and  begin  the  fireworks. 
Those  I  aidn't  shoot  would  die  of  fright.  Imagine  scouts  scouring  tlie 
woods  with  a  lantern  I — with  a  lantern,  Renny  I  Think  of  that !  Oh, 
this  ispie I     Let  me  at  'em." 

"  Hush  !     Keep  ouiet !     They'll  hear  you." 

"  Tim,  bring  the  lentem  round  to  this  side."  The  blur  of  light 
moved  along  the  canvas.  "  There's  a  man  with  his  back  against  the 
wall  of  the  tent.  Just  touch  him  up  with  yer  bayonet,  Murphy,  and 
let  him  know  we're  here." 

"  There  may  be  twenty  in  the  tent,"  said  Murphy,  cautiously. 

"  Do  what  1  tell  you,'  answered  the  man  in  command. 

Murphy  progged  his  bayonet  through  the  canvas,  and  sunk  the 
deadly  point  of  the  instrument  into  the  bag  of  potatoes. 

"  Faith,  he  sleeps  sound,'^  said  Murphy,  with  a  tremor  of  fear  in 
his  voice,  as  there  was  no  demonstration  on  the  part  of  the  bag. 

The  voice  of  Yates  rang  out  from  the  interior  of  the  tent : 

"  What  the  old  Harry  do  you  fellows  think  you're  doing,  anyhow  ? 
What's  the  matter  with  you  ?    What  do  you  want  ?" 

There  was  a  moment's  silence,  broken  only  by  a  nervous  scuffling 
of  feet  and  the  clicking  of  gun-looks. 

"  How  many  are  there  of  you  in  there  ?"  said  the  stem  voice  of  the 
chief. 

"  TwO;  if  you  want  to  know,  both  unarmed,  and  one  ready  to  fight 
the  lot  of  you  if  you  are  anxious  for  a  scrimmage." 

"  Come  out  one  by  one,"  was  the  next  command. 

"  We'll  come  out  one  by  one,"  said  Yates,  emerging  in  his  shirt- 
sleeves, "  but  you  can't  expect  us  to  keep  it  up  long,  as  there  are  only 
two  of  us." 

The  professor  next  appeared,  with  his  ooat  on.  The  situation  cer- 
tainly did  not  look  inviting.  The  lantern  on  the  ground  threw  up  a 
pallid  glow  on  the  severe  face  of  the  commander,  as  the  footlights  might 
illuminate  the  figure  of  a  brigand  in  a  wood  on  the  stage.  The 
face  of  the  officer  showed  that  he  was  greatly  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance and  danger  of  his  position.  Yates  glanced  about  him  with  a 
smile,  all  his  recent  dejection  gone,  now  that  ne  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
row. 

"  Which  is  Murphy,"  he  said,  "  and  which  is  Doolin  ?  Hello, 
alderman,"  he  cried,  as  his  eyes  rested  on  one  tall,  strapping,  red-haired 
man  who  held  his  bayonet  ready  to  chfirge^with  a  fierce  determination 
in  his  face  that  might  have  made  un  opponent  quail.  "  When  did 
you  leave  New  York  ?  and  who's  running  the  city,  now  that  you're 
goner 

The  men  had  evidently  a  sense  of  humor,  in  spite  of  their  blood- 
thirsty business,  for  a  smile  flickered  on  their  faces  in  the  lantern-light, 
and  several  bayonets  were  unconsciously  lowered.  But  the  hard  face 
of  the  commander  did  not  relax. 


I 


"'^-  ■  wr 


4/  \ 


172 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


"  You  are  Aoxna  yourself  no  good  by  your  talk/'  he  said,  solemnly. 
"  What  you  say  will  be  used  aeainst  you." 

"  Yes,  and  what  you  do  viTl  be  used  against  you  ;  and  Ar,a*i  forget 
that  fact.  It's  you  who  are  in  danger, — not  me.  You  are  at  this 
moment  making  about  the  bi^est  ass  of  yourself  there  is  in  Canada." 

"  Pinion  these  men,"  cried  the  captain,  gruffly. 

"  Pinion  nothing!"  shouted  Yates,  shaking  off  the  grasp  of  a  man 
who  had  sprung  to  his  side.  But  both  Yates  and  Ilenmai'k  were 
speedily  overpoweral ;  and  then  an  unseen  difficulty  presented  itself. 
Murphy  pathetically  remarked  that  they  had  no  rope.  The  captain 
was  a  man  of  ret^ouroe. 

"  Cut  enough  rope  from  the  tent  to  tie  them." 

"And  when  you're  at  it.  Murphy,"  said  Yates,  "cutoff  enough 
more  to  hang  yourself  with.  You'll  need  it  before  long.  And  re- 
member that  any  damage  you  do  to  that  tent  you'll  have  to  pay  for. 
It's  hired." 

Yates  gave  them  all  the  trouble  he  could  while  they  tied  his  elbows 
and  wrists  t(^ether,  offeriug  sardonic  suggestions  and  cursing  their 
clumsiness.  Kenmark  submitted  quietly.  When  the  operation  was 
finished,  the  professor  said,  with  the  calm  confidence  of  one  who  has  an 
empire  behind  him  and  knows  it, — 

"  I  warn  you,  sir,  that  this  outrage  is  committed  on  British  soil, 
and  that  I,  on  whom  it  is  committed,  am  a  British  subject." 

"  Heavens  and  earth,  Renraark,  if  you  find  it  impossible  to  keep 
your  mouth  shut,  do  not  use  the  word  *  subject,'  but  *  citizen.' " 

"  I  am  satisfied  with  the  word,  and  with  the  protection  given  to 
those  who  use  it." 

"  Look  here,  Renmark,  you  had  better  let  me  do  the  talking.  You 
will  only  put  your  foot  in  it.  I  know  che  kind  of  men  I  have  to  deal 
with ;  you  evidently  don't." 

In  tying  the  professor  they  came  upon  the  pistol  in  his  ooat-pocket. 
Murphy  held  it  up  to  the  light. 

"  I  thought  you  said  you  were  unarmed  ?"  remarked  the  captain, 
severely,  taking  the  revolver  in  his  hand. 

"  I  was  unarmed.  The  revolver  is  mine,  but  the  professor  would 
not  let  me  use  it.  If  he  had,  all  of  you  would  be  running  for  dear 
life  through  the  woods." 

"You  admit  that  you  are  a  British  subject?"  said  the  captain  to 
Renmark,  ignoring  Yates. 

"  He  doesn't  admit  it,  he  brags  of  it,"  said  the  latter,  before  Ren- 
mark could  speak.  "  You  can't  scare  him  :  so  quit  this  fooling,  and  let 
us  know  how  long  we  are  to  stand  here  trussed  up  like  this." 

"  I  propose,  captain,"  said  the  red-headed  man,  "  that  we  shoot 
these  men  where  they  stand,  and  report  to  the  general.  They  are  spies. 
They  are  armed,  and  they  denied  it.  It's  according  to  the  rules  of  war, 
captain." 

"  Ri'les  of  war !  What  do  you  know  of  the  rules  of  war,  you 
red-headed  Senegambian  ?  Rules  of  Hoyle!  Your  line  is  digging 
sewers,  I  imagine.  Come,  captain,  undo  these  ropes  and  make  up  your 
mind  quickly.    Trot  us  along  to  Qenetal  O'Neill  just  as  &8t  as  you 


f 


.    * 


.AaMfe 


iA 


AM* 


rfiAirtfe 


mtm^ 


"  tN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


173 


said,  solemnly. 

id  doa't  forffet 
ou  are  at  this 
is  in  Canada." 

'rasp  of  a  raan 

^nmai-k  were 

resented  itself. 

The  captain 


3ut  off  enough 
•ng.  And  re- 
re  to  pay  for. 

;ied  his  elbows 

cursing  their 

operation  was 

ne  who  has  an 

]  British  soil, 
>t "  ' 

ssible  to  keep 
izen.' " 
lion  given  to 


»lking.    You 
[  have  to  deal 

8  coat-pocket. 

the  captain, 

ofessor  would 
Qing  for  dear 

lie  captain  to 

,  before  Ren- 

oling,  and  let 

lis." 

bat  we  shoot 

'hey  are  spies. 

!  rules  of  war, 

of  war,  you 
le  is  digging 
nake  up  your 
a  &8t  as  you 


can.    The  sooner  you  get  us  there  the  more  time  you  will  have  for 
being  sorry  over  what  you  have  done." 

fiut  the  captain  still  hesitated,  and  looked  from  onn  to  the  other  of 
his  men,  as  if  to  make  up  his  uiiud  whether  they  would  obey  him  if  he 
went  to  extremities.  Yates's  quick  eye  noted  that  the  two  prisoners  had 
nothing  to  hope  for,  even  from  the  men  who  smiled.  The  shooting  of 
two  unarmed  and  bound  men  seemed  to  them  about  the  correct  way  of 
beginning  a  great  struggle  for  freedom. 

"  Well,"  said  the  captain,  at  length,  "  we  must  do  it  in  proper 
form,  so  I  suppose  we  should  have  a  court-martial.    Are  you  agreea  ?" 

They  were  unanimously  agreed. 

"  Look  here,"  cried  Yates,  and  there  was  a  certain  impressiveness 
iu  his  voice  in  spite  of  his  former  levity,  "  this  farce  has  gone  just  as 
far  as  it  is  going.  Go  inside  the  lent  there,  and  in  my  coat-pocket  you 
will  find  a  telegram,  the  first  of  a  dozen  or  two  received  by  me  within 
the  last  twenty-four  hours.  Then  you  will  see  whom  you  propose  to 
shoot." 

The  telegram  was  found,  and  the  captain  read  it  while  Tim  held 
the  lantern.  He  looked  from  under  his  knitted  brows  at  the  news- 
paper-man. 

"  Then  you  are  one  of  the  Argua  staff." 

"  I  am  chief  of  the  Argua  staff.  As  you  see,  five  of  my  men  will 
be  with  General  O'Neill  to-morrow.  The  first  question  they  will  ask 
him  will  be,  '  Where  is  Yates  T  The  next  thing  that  will  happen  will 
be  that  you  will  be  hanged  for  your  stupidity,  not  by  Canada  nor  by 
the  State  of  New  York,  but  by  your  own  general,  who  will  curse  your 
memory  ever  after.  You  are  fooling,  not  with  a  subject  this  time,  but 
with  a  citizen,  and  your  general  is  not  such  an  idiot  as  to  monkey  with 
the  United  States  government  and,  what  is  a  blamed  sight  worse,  with 
the  great  American  press.  Come,  captain,  we've  had  enough  of  this. 
Cut  these  cords  judt  as  quickly  as  you  can,  and  take  us  to  the  general. 
We  were  going  to  see  him  in  the  morning  anyhow." 

"  But  this  man  says  he  is  a  Canadian." 

"  Thaf  s  all  right.  My  friend  is  wie.  If  you  touch  him  you  touch 
me.  Now  hurry  up.  Climb  down  from  your  peroh.  I  shall  have 
enough  of  trouble  now,  getting  the  general  to  forgive  all  the  blunders 
you  have  made  to-night,  without  your  adding  insult  to  injury.  Tell 
your  men  to  untie  us  and  throw  tne  ropes  back  Into  the  tent.  It  will 
soon  be  daylight.    Hustle,  and  let  us  be  off." 

''  Untie  them,"  said  the  captain,  with  a  sigh. 

Yates  shook  himself  when  his  arms  regained  their  freedom. 

"  Now,  Tim,"  he  said,  "  run  into  that  tent  and  bring  out  my  ooat. 
Ifs  chiUy  here." 

Tim  did  instantly  as  requited,  and  helped  Yates  on  with  the 
coat. 

"  Good  boy  I"  said  Yates.     "  You've  evidently  been  porter  in  a_ 
hotel."    Tim  grinrtjd^  " 

"  I  think,"  said  Yates,  meditatively,  "  that  if  you  look  under  the 
right-hand  bunk,  Tim,  you  will  find  a  jug.  It  belongs  to  the  profes- 
sor, although  he  has  hidden  it  under  my  bed  to  divert  suspicion  from 


*  ?» 


ggg 


174 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


hiinHolf.  JuBt  HhIi  it  out  and  brine  i^.  here.  It  in  not  m  full  as  it  was, 
hut  there's  enougii  to  go  round,  if  the  profewior  does  not  take  more 
than  his  share." 

The  gallant  troop  smaokcd  their  lips  in  anticipation,  and  Rentnark 
looked  astonished  to  see  the  jug  brought  forth.  "  You  first,  profesBor," 
said  Yates ;  and  Tim  innocently  offered  him  the  iug.  The  learued 
man  shook  his  head.     Yntes  laughe<],  and  took  it  himself. 

"  Well,  here'H  to  you,  boys,"  ne  said.  '*  And  may  you  all  get  Ixiok 
as  safely  to  New  York  as  I  will."  The  jug  passed  down  along  the  line 
until  Tim  finished  it. 

"  Now,  then,  for  the  (samp  of  the  Fenian  army,"  criecl  Yates,  taking 
Renmark's  arm  ;   and  they  began  their  march  through  the  woods. 

"  Qreat  Cnsar,  Stilly,"  he  continued  to  his  friend,  "  this  is  rest  and 
quiet  with  a  vengeance,  isn't  it  ?" 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  company,  feeling  that  they  had  to  put  their  best  foot  foremost 
in  the  presence  of  their  prisoners,  tried  at  nrst  to  maintain  something 
like  military  order  in  marching  through  the  woods.  They  soon  found, 
however,  that  this  was  a  difficult  thing  to  do.  (~!anadian  forests  ard 
not  as  trimly  kept  as  English  parks.  Tim  walked  on  ahead  with  the 
lantern,  but  three  times  he  tumbled  over  some  obstruction  and  dis- 
appearetl  suddenly  from  view,  uttering  male<iictions.  His  final  effort 
in  this  line  was  a  triumph.  He  fell  over  the  lantern  and  smashed  it. 
When  ail  attempts  at  reconstruction  failed,  the  party  tramped  on  In 
go-as-you-please  fashion,  and  found  they  did  better  without  tb^  light 
than  with  it.  In  fact,  although  it  was  not  yet  four  o'clock,  daybreak 
was  already  filtering  through  the  trees,  and  the  woods  were  perceptibly 
lighter. 


"We 
"W 


e  must  be  getting  near  the  camp,"  said  the  captain, 
ill  I  "hout,  sir  ?'°  asked  Murphy. 


**  No,  no.     Wa  can't  miss  it.     Keep  on  as  you  are  doing." 

They  were  nearer  the  camp  than  4hey  suspected.  As  they  blun- 
dered on  among  the  cracking  underbrush  and  dry  twigs,  the  sharp 
report  of  a  rifle  echoed  through  the  forest,  and  a  bullet  wnistled  above 
their  heads. 

"  Fat  the  divil  are  you  foiring  at,  Mike  Lynch?"  cried  the  alder- 
man, who  recognized  the  shooter,  now  rapidly  falling  back. 

"Oh,  it's  you,  is  it?"  said  the  sentry,  stopping  in  his  flight.  The 
captain  strode  angrily  towards  him. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  firing  like  that?  Don't  you  know  enough 
to  ask  for  the  countersign  before  shooting?" 

"  Sure  I  forgot  about  it,  captain,  entirely.  But  then,  ye  see,  I 
□ever  can  hit  anything:  so  it's  little  difference  it  makes." 

The  shot  had  roused  the  camp,  and  there  was  now  wild  commotion, 
everybody  thinking  the  Canadians  were  upon  them. 

A  strange  sight  met  the  eyes  of  Yates  and  Benmark.  Both  were 
astonished  to  see  the  number  of  men  that  O'Neill  had  under  his  com- 


MaMKXMMKtMtMMl 


i^ 


Mtfl 


m^ 


fhttm 


IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


175 


full  ua  it  WM, 
lut  take  more 

uid  He  II  mark 

8t,  professor," 

The  lea  rued 

11  all  get  book 
iloQg  the  line 

Ybtns,  taLing 

e  woods. 

tis  is  rest  and 


foot  foremost 
in  something 
r  soon  found, 
n  forests  ar^ 
ead  with  the 
ion  and  dis- 
is  final  effort 
1  8inasi)ed  it. 
imped  on  in 
>ut  thM  light 
ck,  daybreak 
e  perceptibly 


ng." 

8  they  blun- 
:s,  the  sharp 
tistled  above 

d  the  alder- 
flight.  The 
:now  enough 
Q,  ye  see,  I 
commotion, 

Both  were 
ler  his  com* 


maiid.  They  were  a  motley  crowd.  Borne  tattered  TJnit«<i  States 
uniforms  were  among  tliem,  but  the  greater  number  were  dressed  m 
ordinary  individuals,  although  a  few  had  trimmings  of  ji^reeu  bruid  on 
their  clotht^s.  81eepi:ig  out  for  a  couple  oi'  nights  nad  given  the  crowd 
the  unkempt  appearance  of  a  great  comiieoy  of  tramps.  The  officers 
were  indlHtiiigiiishable  from  the  men  at  first,  but  afterwards  Yates 
notioe«l  that  tliey,  mostly  in  plain  clothes  and  slouch  hi.tH,  hud  sword- 
belts  buckled  around  them  and  one  or  two  had  swords  that  had  evi- 
dently seen  service  in  the  United  States  (»va!ry. 

"  It's  all  right,  boys,"  cried  the  captain  to  the  excited  mob.  "  It 
was  only  that  fool  Lynch  who  fired  at  us.  There's  nobody  hurt. 
Where's  the  general?" 

"  Here  he  comes,"  said  half  a  dozen  voices  at  once,  and  the  crowd 
made  way  for  him. 

General  O'Neill  was  dressed  in  ordinary  citiKen's  costume,  and  did 
not  have  even  n  sword-belt.  On  his  head  of  light  hair  was  a  black 
soft  felt  hat.  His  face  was  pale  and  covered  with  freckles.  He  looked 
more  like  a  clerk  from  a  iitore  than  like  the  commander  of  an  ?.i'my. 
He  was  evidently  somewhere  between  thirty-five  and  forty  years  of  age. 

"Oh,  it's  you,  is  it?"  Jie  said.  "Why  are  you  back?  Any 
news  ?" 

The  captain  saluted,  military  fashion,  and  replied, — 

"  We  took  two  prisoners,  sir.  They  were  encamped  in  a  tent  in 
the  woods.  One  of  them  says  he  is  an  American  citizen  and  says  he 
knows  you,  so  I  brought  them  in." 

"  I  wish  you  had  crought  in  tlie  tent  too,"  said  the  general,  with  a 
wan  smile.  "  It  would  be  an  improvement  on  sleeping  in  the  open 
air.     Are  these  the  prisoners?     I  don't  know  either  of  these  men. 

"The  captain  makes  a  mistake  in  saying  that  I  claimed  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  you,  general.  What  I  said  was  that  you  would 
recognize  somewhat  quicker  than  he  did  who  I  was,  and  the  desira- 
bility of  ti  ating  me  with  reasonable  decency. — Just  show  the  general 
that  telegram  you  took  from  ray  coat-pocket,  captain." 

The  paper  was  produced,  and  O'Neill  read  it  over  once  or  twice. 

"  You  are  on  the  New  York  Argua,  then  ?" 

"  Very  much  so,  general." 

"  I  hope  you  have  not  been  roughly  used  ?" 

"Oh,  no;  merely  tied  up  in  a  hard  knot  and  threatened  with 
shooting, — that's  all." 

"On,  I'm  sorry  to  hear  that.  Still,  you  must  make  some  allow- 
ance at  a  time  like  this.  If  you  will  come  with  m'~  I  will  write  you  a 
rass  which  will  prevent  any  similar  mistake  happe.  ing  in  the  future." 
The  general  led  the  way  to  a  smouldering  camp-fire,  where,  out  of  a 
valise,  he  took  writizig-materials,  and,  using  Hie  valise  as  a  desk,  began 
to  write.  After  he  had  written  "  Head-quarters  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Irish  Republic,"  he  looked  up  and  asked  Yates  his  first  name. 
Being  answered,  he  inquired  the  name  of  bis  friend. 

"  I  want  nothing  from  you,"  interposed  Beumark.  "  Don't  put  my 
name  on  the  paper." 

"Oh,  that's  all  right,"  said  Yates.     "Never  mind  him,  general. 


BS* 


,   4 


17U 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALA  RMS.' 


He'a  a  Icariieci  man  who  dovrn't  know  when  to  talk  and  when  not  to. 
Ah  you  inarch  up  ti>our  tent,  general,  you  will  wse  an  empty  jug,  which 
will  explain  everything.  Renmark's  drunk,  not  to  put  too  fine  a  point 
up<m  it,  und  lie  in;agine8  himself  a  Rritiuh  HubjecU 

The  Fenian  general  looked  up  at  the  prolessur. 

"  Are  you  a  Canadian  ?"  he  asked. 

"Certainly  I  am." 

"  Well,  in  that  cane,  if  I  let  yoi:  leave  vamp,  you  must  give  me  your 
word  that  Hliould  you  iall  in  with  the  enemy  you  will  give  no  inlbrma* 
tion  to  them  of  our  {xmition,  numlxirs,  or  of  anything  else  you  majr 
have  w!en  while  with  un." 

"  I  shall  not  give  my  word.  On  the  contrary,  if  I  should  fall  io 
with  the  Canadian  troops  I  will  tell  them  where  you  are,  that  you  are 
from  eight  hundrad  to  one  thouHund  stronff,  and  the  worst-looking  set 
of  vagaoonds  I  have  ever  seen  out  of  jail. 

General  O'Neill  frowned  and  looked  from  one  to  the  other. 

"  Do  you  realize  that  you  confess  to  being  a  spy,  and  that  it  bo> 
comes  my  duty  to  have  you  taken  out  and  shot  ?" 

"  In  real  war,  yes.  But  this  is  mere  idiotic  fooling.  All  of  vou 
that  don't  escape  will  be  either  in  jail^or  shot  before  twenty-four 
hours." 

"  Well,  by  the  gods,  it  won't  help  you  any.  I'll  have  you  shot 
inside  often  minut«8,  instead  of  twenty-four  hou.s." 

"  Hold  on,  general,  hold  en,"  cried  Yates,  as  the  an{;ry  man  rose 
and  confronted  the  two.  "  I  admit  that  he  richly  deserves  shooting  if 
vou  were  the  fool-killer,  which  yon  are  not.  But  it  won't  do.  I  will 
be  responnible  for  him.  Just  iinish  that  pass  for  me,  and  I  will  take 
care  of  the  professor.  Shoot  me  if  you  like,  but  don't  touch  him.  He 
hasn't  any  sense,  as  you  can  see,  but  I  am  not  to  blame  for  that,  nor 
are  you.  If  you  take  to  shooting  everybody  who  is  an  ass,  general, 
you  won't  have  any  ammunition  left  tu  conquer  Canada  with." 

The  general  smiled  in  spite  of  himself,  and  resumed  the  writing  of 
the  pass.  "  There,"  he  said,  handing  the  paper  to  Ya- ss.  "  You  see, 
we  always  like  to  oblige  the  press.  ?l  will  risk  your  belligerent  friend, 
and  I  hope  you  will  exercise  more  control  over  him,  if  you  meet  the 
Canadians,  than  you  were  able  to  exert  here.  Don't  you  think,  on  the 
whole,  you  bad  better  stay  with  us  ?  We  are  going  to  march  in  a 
couple  of  hours,  when  the  men  have  had  a  little  rest.  He  added  in 
a  lower  voice,  so  that  the  professor  could  not  hear,  "  You  didn't  see 
anything  of  the  Canadians,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  Not  a  sign.  No,  I  don't  think  I'll  stay.  There  will  be  five  of 
our  fellows  here  some  time  to-day,  I  expect,  and  that  will  be  more  than 
enough.  I'm  really  here  on  a  vacation.  Been  ordered  rest  and  quiet 
I'm  beginning  to  think  I  have  made  a  mistake  in  location." 

Yates  bade  good-by  to  the  commander,  and  walked  with  bis  friend 
out  of  the  camp.  They  threaded  their  way  among  sleeping  men  and 
groups  of  stacked  guns.  On  the  top  of  one  of  the  bayonets  was 
hung  a  tall  silk  hat,  which  looked  most  incongruous  in  such  a  place. 

"I  think,"  said  Yates,  "that  we  will  make  for  the  Ridge  Road, 
which  must  lie  somewhere  in  this  dii-ection.    It  will  be  easier  walking 


i^ 


pp 


"TN  THK   MIDST  OF  ALAHMV." 


177 


au(i  when  not  to, 
jniptjr  iug,  which 
it  too  fliio  a  point 


list  give  me  your 
y;ivo  no  inibrma- 
g  el«o  you  may 

I  should  fall  in 
Are,  that  you  are 
irorat^looking  set 

le  other. 

,  and  that  it  be- 

ig.  All  of  you 
ore  twenty-four 

have  you  shot 

»iif,ry  man  rose 
rves  shooting  if 
)n*t  do.  I  will 
and  I  will  take 
}uoh  him.  He 
ne  for  that,  nor 
an  ass,  general, 

with." 

the  writing  of 

9.  "  You  see, 
ligerent  friend, 

you  meet  the 

II  think,  on  the 
to  march  in  a 

He  added  in 
Tou  didn't  see 


38 


will  be  five  of 
be  more  than 
rest  and  quiet 
n." 

t'ith  bis  friend 
ping  men  and 
bayonets  was 
ach  a  place. 
Kidge  Boad, 
^er  m 


than  through  the  woods ;  and,  bmides,  I  want  to  stop  at  one  of  th« 
rurrn-houMis  am)  get  Honu-  hroakfust.  I'm  as  hungry  as  a  bear  afler 
tramping  m>  long.' 

"  Very  well,"  answered  the  pnjfeiMJor,  Hhortly. 

They  ntumblcd  along  until  they  reached  the  edge  of  the  wood, 
then,  crossing  «oin«  opMi  fi»;Kls,  prewintly  came  M|K)n  the  nmd  iH«r 
the  spot  where  the  ftst-Cight  lia«i  taken  place  l)etwe<>n  YateH  and  Ikirt- 
lett.  The  two,  now  with  greater  (xmuort,  walked  Hilently  along  the 
road  towuixls  tin  \v»«t,  with  the  nMldening  emt  iH'liind  tiiem.  The 
whole  Hcene  woh  ntrangely  nuiet  and  {leuccful,  atut  the  rev()ll<>ction  of 
the  weird  camp  they  hod  left  in  the  wocmIh  neenieil  merely  a  bad  dream. 
The  morning  air  was  sweet,  and  the  birds  were  iM'ginning  to  sing. 
Yates  hail  intended  to  give  the  professor  a  piece  of  his  niind  ream- 
ing the  lack  of  tact  and  common  sense  diB^laye<l  by  Renroark  in  the 
camp,  but  somehow  the  scarcely-awakened  day  did  not  lend  itself  to 
controversy,  and  the  serene  stillness  soothed  his  spirit.  He  l)egan  to 
whistle  soflly  that  popular  war-song,  "Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  boys 
are  marching,"  and  then  broke  in  with  the  question, — 

"  Say,  l^nny,  did  you  notice  that  plug-hat  on  the  bayonet?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  professor ;  "  and  I  oaw  five  others  scattered 
around  the  canp." 

"Jingo I  you  were  observant.  I  tim  imagine  nothing  quite  so 
ridiculous  as  a  man  going  to  war  in  a  t    '  Hilk  hat." 

The  professor  made  no  reply,  and  ^  utes  changed  his  whistling  to 
"  Rally  round  the  flag." 

"  I  presume,"  he  said  at  length, "  there  is  little  use  in  attempting  to 
improve  the  morning  hour  by  trying  to  show  you,  Renmark,  what  a 
fool  you  made  of  yourself  in  the  camp?  Your  natural  diplomacy 
aeemal  to  be  slightly  off  the  centre." 

"  I  do  not  hold  diplomatic  relations  with  thieves  and  vagabonds." 

"They  may  be  vagabonds,  but  so  am  I,  for  that  matter.  They 
may  also  be  wcU-meaning  mistaken  men ;  but  I  do  not  think  tliey  are 
thieves." 

"While  you  were  talking  with  the  so-called  general,  one  party 
came  in  with  several  horses  that  had  been  stolen  from  the  neighboring 
farmers,  and  another  party  started  out  to  get  some  more." 

"Oh,  that  isn^t  stealmg,  Renmark;  that's  requisitioning.  You 
mustn't  use  such  reckless  language.  I  imagine  the  second  party  has 
been  successful ;  for  here  are  three  of  them,  all  mounted." 

The  three  horsemen  referred  to  stopped  their  steeds  at  the  sight 
of  the  two  men  coming  round  the  bend  of  the  road,  and  awaited  their 
approach.  Like  so  many  of  the  others,  they  wore  no  uniform,  but  two 
of  them  held  revolvers  in  their  hands  ready  for  ac^Jon.  The  one  who 
had  no  visible  revolver  moved  his  horse  Gp  the  middle  of  the  road 
towards  the  pedestrians,  the  other  two  taking  positions  on  each  side  of 
the  wagon-way. 

"Who  are  you?     Wh-jre  do  you  come  from,  and  where  are  you' 
going?"  cried  the  foremost  horseman,  as  the  two  walkers  came  within 
talking-<listance. 

"It'B  all  right,  commodore,"  said  Yates,  jauntily,  "and  the  top  of 
Vol.  LIL— 12 


■.^* 


*S«il 


.^^^-■'^ 


178 


IN  '^"1    MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


out  his 
it  care- 


That  IB 


the  morning  to  you.     We  are  hungry  pedestrians.     We  have  just  come 
from  the  camp,  and  we  are  going  to  get  something  to  eat." 

"  I  must  have  a  more  satisfactory  answer  than  that." 

"  Well,  here  you  have  it,  then,  answered  Yates,  pullinj 
folded  pass  and  handing  it  up  to  the  horseman.  The  man  raa( 
fully.     "  You  find  that  all  right,  I  expect?" 

"  Right  enough  to  cause  your  immediate  arrest." 

"  But  the  general  said  we  were  not  to  be  molested  furtho-. 
in  his  own  handwriting." 

"  I  presume  it  is,  and  all  the  worse  for  you.  His  handwriting  docs 
not  run  quite  as  far  as  the  queen's  writ  in  this  country  yet.  I  arrest 
you  in  the  name  of  the  queen. — Cover  these  men  with  your  revolvers, 
and  shoot  them  down  if  they  make  any  resistance."  So  saying,  the 
rider  slipped  from  his  horse,  whipped  out  of  his  pocket  a  pi^ir  of  nand- 
cuifs  jointkl  by  a  short  stout  steel  chain,  and,  leaving  his  horse  standing, 
grasped  Renmark's  wrist. 

"  I'm  a  Canadian,"  said  the  professor,  wrenching  his  wrist  away. 
"  You  mustn't  put  handcuffs  on  me." 

"  You  are  in  very  bad  company,  then.  I  am  a  constable  of  this 
county,  and,  if  you  are  what  you  say,  you  will  not  resist  arrest." 

"  I  v'ill  go  with  you,  but  you  mustn't  handcuff  me." 

"  Oh  !  mustn't  I  ?"  And,  with  a  quick  mivement  indicative  of  long 
practice  with  resisting  criminals,  the  constable  deftly  slipped  on  one  of 
the  clasps,  which  closed  with  a  sharp  click  and  stuck  l<ke  a  burr. 

Benmark  l)ecame  deadly  pale,  and  there  was  a  dangerous  glitter 
in  his  eyes.  He  drew  back  his  clinched  fist,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
the  cocked  revolver  was  edging  closer  and  closer  to  him  and  the  con- 
stable held  his  struggling  manacled  hand  with  grim  determination. 

"  Hold  on !"  cried  Yates,  preventing  the  professor  from  striking 
the  representative  of  the  law.  "  Don't  shoot,"  he  shouted  to  the  man 
on  horseback  :  '*  it  is  all  a  little  mistake,  that  will  be  quickly  put  right. 
You  are  three  armed  and  mounted  men,  and  we  are  only  two,  unarmed 
and  on  foot.  There  is  no  need  of  any  revolver  practice. — Now,  Ren- 
mark,  you  are  more  of  a  rebel  at  the  present  moment  than  O'Neill. 
He  owes  no  allegiance,  and  you  do.  Have  you  no  respect  for  the  forms 
of  law  and  order?  You  are  an  anarchist  at  heart,  for  all  your  profes- 
sions. You  would  sing  '  God  save  the  Queen !'  in  the  wrong  place 
awhile  ago,  so  now  be  satisfied  that  you  have  got  her,  or,  rather,  that 
she  has  got  you. — Now,  constable,  do  you  want  to  hitch  the  other  end 
of  that  arrangement  on  my  wrist  ?  or  have  you  another  pair  for  my 
own  special  use?" 

"  I'll  take  your  wrist,  if  you  please." 

"  All  right :  here  you  are."  Yates  drew  back  his  coat-sleeve  and 
presented  his  wrist.  The  dangling  cuff  was  speedily  damped  upon  it. 
The  constable  mounted  the  patient  horse  that  stood  waiting  for  him, 
watching  him  the  while  with  intelligent  eye.  The  two  prisoners  hand- 
cuffed together  took  the  middle  of  the  road,  with  a  horseman  on  each  side 
of  them,  the  conp.table  bringing  up  the  rear,  and  thus  they  marched  on, 
the  professor  gloomy  from  the  indignity  put  upon  them,  and  the  news- 
pa^Mir-nian  as  joyous  as  the  now  thoroughly  awakened  birds.     The 


irt^Mk 


IN  TBE  MIDST  OF  ALAAMS.' 


170 


We  have  just  come 

o  eat." 

bat." 

ies,  pulling  out  his 

e  man  read  it  care- 


1  further-. 

3  handwriting  does 
utry  yet.  I  arrest 
th  your  revolvers, 
"  So  saying,  the 
ket  a  pjiir  of  nand- 
his  horse  standing, 

g  his  wrist 

L  constable  of  this 
fflist  arrest." 
le.' 

indicative  of  long 
slipped  on  one  of 
I'kea  burr, 
dangerous  glitter 
e  of  the  fact  that 
him  and  the  oon- 
ietermination. 
or  from  striking 
outed  to  the  man 
luickly  put  right, 
nly  two,  unarmed 
ice.— Now,  Ren- 
ent  than  O'Neill, 
pect  for  the  forms 
•  all  your  profes- 
the  wrong  place 
r,  or,  rather,  that 
ch  the  other  end 
ther  pair  for  my 

i  coafr-sleeve  and 
ilamped  upon  it. 
(waiting  for  him, 
prisoners  hand- 
man  on  each  side 
Jey  marched  on, 
1,  and  the  news- 
led  birds.    The 


scouts  ooncladed  to  go  no  farther  towards  the  enemy,  but  to  return  to 
the  Canadian  forces  with  their  prisouens.  They  marohed  down  the 
road,  all  silent  except  Yates,  who  enlivened  the  morning  air  with  tba 
singing  of  "  John  Brown." 

"  Keep  quiet,"  said  the  constable,  curtly. 

"  All  right,  I  will.  But  look  here:  we  shall  pass  shortly  the 
house  of  a  friend.    We  want  to  go  and  get  something  to  eat." 

"  You  will  get  nothing  to  eat  until  I  deliver  you  up  to  the  officers 
of  the  volunteers." 

"  And  where,  may  I  ask,  are  they  ?" 

"  You  may  ask,  but  I  will  not  answer." 

"  Now,  Renmark,"  said  Yates  to  his  companion,  "  the  tough  part 
of  this  episode  is  that  we  shall  have  to  paf.d  Bartlett's  house  and  mist 
merely  on  the  remembrance  of  the  good  th  ngs  which  Mrs.  Bartlett  is 
always  glad  to  bestow  on  the  v/ayfarer.  I  call  that  refined  cruelty.  It 
is  adding  insult  to  injury." 

As  they  neared  the  Bartlett  homestead  they  caught  sight  of  Miss 
Kitty  on  the  veranda,  shading  her  eyes  from  the  rising  sun  and  gazing 
earnestly  at  the  approaching  squad.  As  soon  as  she  recognized  the 
group  she  disappeared  with  a  cry  into  the  hous-:.  Presently  there 
came  out  Mrs.  Bartlett,  followed  by  her  son  and  more  slowly  by  the 
old  man  himself. 

They  all  came  down  to  the  gate  and  waited. 

"  Hello,  Mrs.  Bartlett,"  cri^  Yates,  cheerily.  "  You  see  the  pro- 
fessor has  got  his  deserts  at  last ;  and  I,  being  in  bad  company,  snare 
his  fate,  like  the  good  dog  Tray." 

"  What'3  all  this  about  ?"  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett 

The  constable,  who  knew  both  the  farmer  and  his  wife,  nodded 
familiarly  to  tuem.      '  They're  Feaian  prisoners."  he  said. 

*'  Nonsense  1"  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett, — the  old  man,  as  usual,  keeping 
his  moutli  grimly  shut  viLen  his  wife  was  present  to  do  the  talkmg ; 
"they're  not  Fenians.  They've  been  camping  on  our  farm  for  a 
week  or  more." 

"  That  may  be,"  said  the  constable,  firmly, "  but  I  have  the  best  of 
evidence  against  them,  and  if  I'm  not  very  much  mistaken  they'll 
hang  for  it/' 

Miss  Kitty,  who  had  been  partly  visible  through  the  door,  gave  a 
cry  of  anguish  at  this  remark  and  disappeared  again. 

"  We  have  just  escaped  being  Imuged  by  the  Fenians  theniselves, 
Mrs.  Bartlett,  and  I  hope  the  same  fate  awaits  us  at  the  hands  of  the 
Canadians." 

"  What  I  hanging  ?" 

**  No,  no ;  just  escaping.  Not  that  I  object  to  beijg  hanged ;  I  hope 
I  am  not  so  pernickety  as  all  that ;  but,  Mrs.  Bartlett,  you  will  sympathize 
with  me  when  I  tell  you  that  the  torture  I  am  suffering  from  at  this 
moment  is  the  remembrance  of  the  good  things  to  eat  which  I  have 
had  in  your  house.  I  am  simply  starviiJg  to  death,  Mrs.  Bartlett,  and  " 
this  hard-hearted  constable  refuses  to  allow  me  to  ask  you  for  anything." 

Mrs.  Bartlett  came  out  through  the  gate  to  the  road  in  a  visible 
state  of  indignation. 


.li-aM::' 


"«(»?• 


^^'^-'   .'L^-4^>^^^^^<l^bil^4'^^^^W2w^»^ 


■*'iVgW"U.U.i"-!i  I-   ii.Hlli>iii  >■■ 


^m 


180 


:Mf 


"  tm  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


^m4 


'r  "Stoliker,"  she  exclaimed,  "I'm  ashamed  of  youl  You  may 
hank,'  a  man  if  you  like,  but  you  have  no  right  to  starve  him. — Come 
straight  in  with  me,"  she  said  to  the  prisoners. 

"  Madam,"  said  Stoliker,  severely, "  you  must  not  interfere  with  the 
course  of  the  law." 

"  The  course  of  stuff  and  nonsense !"  cried  the  angry  woman. 
"  Do  you  think  I  am  afraid  of  you,  Spi  ■  Stoliker?  Haven'fr  I  chased 
you  out  of  this  very  orchard  when  you  were  a  boy  trying  to  steal  my 
apples  ?  Yes,  and  boxed  your  ears  too  when  I  caught  you,  and  then 
was  fool  enough  to  fill  your  pockets  with  the  best  apples  on  the  place 
after  giving  you  what  you  deserved.  Course  of  the  law,  intleed  1  I'll 
box  your  ears  now  if  you  say  anything  more.  Get  down  off  your  horse 
and  have  something  to  eat  yourself.     I  dare  say  you  need  it." 

"  This  is  what  I  -all  a  rescue,"  whispered  Yates  to  his  linked 
companion. 

What  is  a  stem  upholder  of  the  law  to  do  when  the  interferer  with 
justice  13  a  determined  and  angry  woman  accustome  I  to  having  her 
own  way  ?  Stoliker  looked  helplessly  at  Hiram  as  the  supposed  head 
of  the  house,  but  the  old  man  merely  shru^ed  his  shoulders,  as  much 
as  to  say,  "  You  see  how  it  is  yourbeli.  1  am  helpless." 
V  Mrs.  Bartlett  marched  her  prisoners  through  the  gate  and  up  to 
the  house. 

"  All  I  ask  of  you  now,"  said  Yates,  "  is  that  you  will  give  Ren- 
merk  and  me  seats  together  at  the  table.  TYe  cannot  bear  to  be  sepa- 
rated even  for  an  instant" 

Having  delivered  her  prisoners  to  the  custody  of  her  daughter,  at 
tl.3  same  time  admonishing  her  to  get  breakfast  as  quickly  as  possible, 
Mrs.  Bartlett  went  to  the  gate  again.  The  constable  was  still  on  his 
horse.  Hiram  had  asked  him,  by  way  of  treating  him  to  a  non-con- 
troversial subject,  if  this  wes  the  colt  he  had  bought  from  old  Brown 
on  the  second  concession,  and  Stoliker  had  replied  that  it  was.  Hir?.m 
was  saying  he  thought  he  recognized  the  horse  by  his  sire,  when  Mrs. 
Bartlett  broke  in  upon  them. 

"  Come,  Sam,"  she  said,  "  no  sulking,  you  know.  Slip  off  the 
horse  and  come  in.     How's  your  mother  ?" 

"  She's  pretty  well,  thank  you,"  said  3ara,  sheepishly,  coming  down 
on  his  feet  again. 

KJtly  Bartlett,  her  gayr'ty  gone  and  her  eyes  red,  waited  on  the 

{msoners,  but  absolutely  refused  to  serve  Sam  Stoliker,  on  whom  she 
ooked  with  the  utmost  contempt,  not  taking  into  account  the  fact  that 
the  poor  young  man  had  been  merely  doing  his  duty,  und  doing  it  well. 

"  Take  off  these  handcufls,  Sam,"  md  Mrs.  Bartlett,  "  until  they 
have  breakfast  at  least." 

Stoliker  produced  a  key  and  unlocked  the  manacles,  slipping  them 
into  his  pocket. 

"  Ah  !  now,"  said  Yates,  looking  at  his  red  wrist,  "  we  can  breathe 
easier,  and  I,  for  one,  can  eat  more. 

The  professor  said  nothing.  The  iron  had  not  only  encircled  his 
'.rist,  but  had  entered  his  soul  as  well.  Although  Yates  tried  to  make 
tb?  early  meal  as  oheerful  as  possible,  it  was  rather  a  gloomy  festival. 


'  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


181 


ou  I    You  may 
•ve  him. — Come 

iterfere  with  the 

angry  woman, 
[aven'f  I  chased 
nng  to  steal  my 
t  you,  and  then 
les  on  the  place 
V,  indeed  I "  I'll 
n  off  your  horse 
ed  it." 

to  his  linked 

interferer  with 

to  having  her 

supposed  head 

ilders,  as  much 

^te  and  up  to 

(vill  give  Ren- 
ear  to  be  sepa- 

sr  daughter,  at 
dy  as  possible, 
vas  still  on  his 
I  to  a  non-oon- 
tm  old  Brown 
t  was.  Hiram 
re,  when  Mrs. 

Slip  off  the 

coming  down 

waited  on  the 
on  whom  she 
t  the  fact  that 
doing  it  well. 
,  "until  they 

slipping  them 

e  can  breathe 

encircled  his 
tried  to  make 
•omy  festival. 


Stoliker  b^an  to  feel,  poor  man,  that  the  paths  of  duty  were  unpopu- 
lar. Old  Hiram  ooula  be  always  depended  upon  to  add  sombreness 
and  taciturnity  to  a  wedding-feast,  and  the  professor,  never  the  live- 
liest of  companions,  sat  silent,  with  clouded  brow,  and  vexed  even  the 
cheerful  Mrs.  Bartlett  by  having  evidently  no  appetite.  When  the 
hurried  mital  was  over,  Yates,  noticing  that  Miss  l^itty  had  left  the 
room,  sprani;  up  and  walked  towards  the  kitchen  door.  Stoliker  was 
on  his  feet  in  an  instant,  and  made  as  though  to  follow  him. 

"Sit  down,"  said  the  professor,  sharply,  speaking  for  the  first 
time.  "  He  is  not  going  to  escape.  Don't  be  afraid.  He  has  done 
nothing,  and  has  no  fear  of  arrest.  It  is  always  the  innocent  that 
you  stupid  officials  arrest.  The  woods  all  around  you  are  full  of  real 
Fenians,  but  you  take  excellent  care  to  keep  out  of  their  way  and  give 
your  attention  to  molesting  perfectly  inoffensive  people." 

"Good  for  you,  professor!"  cried  Mrs.  Bartlett,  emphatically. 
"That's  the  truth,  if  ever  it  was  spoken.  But  are  there  Fenians 
in  the  woods  ?" 

"  Hundreds  of  them.  They  came  on  us  in  the  tent  about  three 
o'clock  this  morning,— or  at  least  an  advance-guard  did, — and,  after 
talking  of  shooting  us  where  we  stood,  they  marched  us-  to  the  Fenian 
camp  instead.  Yates  got  a  pass  written  by  the  Fenian  general,  so  that 
we  should  not  be  troubled  again.  That  is  the  precious  document  which 
this  man  thinks  is  deadly  evidence.  He  never  asked  us  a  question, 
but  clapped  the  handcuffs  on  our  wrists,  while  the  other  fools  held 
pistols  to  our  heads." 

"  It  isn't  my  place  to  ask  questions,"  retorted  Stoliker,  doggedly. 
"  You  can  tell  all  this  to  the  colonel  or  the  sheriff,  and  if  they  let  you 
go  I'll  say  nothing  against  it." 

Meanwhile,  Yates  had  made  his  way  into  the  kitchen,  taking  the 
precaution  to  shut  the  door  after  him.  Kitty  Bartlett  looked  quickly 
around  as  the  door  shut.  Before  she  could  speak,  the  young  man 
caught  her  by  the  plump  shoulders, — a  thing  which  he  certainly  had  no 
right  to  do. 

"  Miss  Kitty  Bartlett,"  he  said,  "  you've  been  ciying." 

"  I  haven't ;  and  if  I  had,  it  is  nothing  to  you." 

"  Oh,  I'm  not  so  sure  about  that.  Don't  deny  it.  For  whom  were 
you  crying?    The  professor?" 

"  No,  nor  for  you  either,  although  I  suppose  you  have  conceit 
enough  to  think  so." 

"  Me  conceited  ?  Anything  but  that.  Come  now,  Kitty,  for  whom 
were  you  crying?    I  must  know." 

"  Please  let  me  go,  Mr.  Yates,"  said  Kitty,  with  an  effort  at  dig- 
nity. 

"  Dick  is  my  name.  Kit."  " 

"  Well,  mine  is  not  Kit." 

"  You're  quite  right.  Now  that  you  mention  it,  I  will  call  you 
Kitty,  which  is  much  prettier  than  the  abbreviation." 

"  I  did  not '  mention  it.'  Please  let  me  go.  Nobotiy  has  the  right 
to  call  me  anything  but  Miss  Burtlett ;  that  is,  ymi.  haven't,  anyhow." 

"  Well,  Kitty,  don't  you  think  it  is  about  time  to  give  somebody 


s^ 


j 


"W 


182 


"/^  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


the  right?  Why  won't  you  look  up  at  me,  so  that  I  can  tell  for  sure 
whether  I  should  have  accused  you  of  crying?  Look  up, — Miss 
Bartlett." 

"  Please  let  me  go,  Mr.  Yates.     Mother  will  be  here  in  a  minute." 

"  Mother  is  a  wise  and  thoughtful  woman.  We'll  risk  mother. 
Besides,  I'm  not  in  the  least  afraid  of  her,  and  I  don't  believe  you  are. 
I  think  she  is  at  this  moment  giving  poor  Mr.  Stoliker  a  piece  of  her 
mind  ;  otlierwise,  I  imagine,  he  would  have  followed  me.  I  jaw  it  in 
his  eye." 

"  I  hate  that  man,"  said  Kitty,  inconsequently. 

"  I  like  him,  because  he  brought  me  here,  even  if  I  was  handcuffed. 
Kitty,  why  don't  you  look  up  at  me?    Are  you  afraid?" 

"  Whai,  «thoala  I  be  afraid  of?"  asked  Kitty,  giving  him  one  swift 
glance  from  her  pretty  blue  eyes.     "  Not  of  you,  I  hope." 

"  Well,  Kitty,  I  sincerely  hope  not.  Now,  Miss  Bartlett  do  you 
know  why  I  came  out  here  ?" 

"For  something  more  to  eat,  very  likely,"  said  the  girl,  mis- 
chievously. 

"  Now,  Miss  Kitty,  that,  to  a  man  in  captivity,  is  both  cruel  and 
unkind.  Besides,  I  had  a  first-rate  breakfast,  thank  you.  No  such 
motive  drew  me  into  the  kitchen.  But  I  will  tell  you.  You  shall 
have  it  from  my  own  lips.     That  was  the  reason." 

He  suited  the  action  to  the  word,  and  kissed  her  before  she  knew 
what  was  about  to  happen.  At  least  Yates,  with  all  his  experience, 
thought  he  had  taken  lier  unawares.  Men  often  make  mistakes  in 
little  matters  of  this  kind.  Kitty  pushed  him  with  apparent  indigna- 
tion from  her,  but  she  did  not  strike  him  across  the  face  as  she 
had  done  before  when  he  merely  attempted  what  he  had  now  accom- 
plished. Perhaps  thid  was  because  she  had  been  taken  so  completely 
by  surprise. 

"  I  shall  call  my  mother,"  she  threatened. 

"Oh,  no,  you  won't.  Besides,  she  wocildn't  come."  Then  this 
frivolous  young  man  began  to  sing  in  a  low  voice  the  flippant  refrain, 
"  Here's  to  the  girl  that  gets  a  kiss  and  runs  and  tells  ner  mothel*," 
ending  with  the  wish  that  she  should  live  and  die  an  old  maid  and 
never  get  another.  Kitty  should  not  have  smiled,  but  she  did ;  she 
should  have  rebuked  his  levity,  but  she  didn't. 

"  It  is  about  the  great  and  disastrous  consequences  of  living  and 
dying  un  old  maid  that  I  want  to  speak  to  you.  I  have  a  plan  for  the 
prevention  of  such  a  catastrophe,  and  I  would  like  to  get  your  approval 

Yates  had  released  the  girl,  partly  because  she  had  wrenched  her- 
self away  from  him  and  partly  because  he  heard  a  movement  in  the 
dining-room  and  expected  the  entrance  of  Stoliker  or  some  of  the 
others.  Miss  Kitty  stood  with  her  back  to  the  table,  her  eyes  fixed  on 
a  spring  flower  which  she  had  unconsciously  taken  from  a  vase  stand- 
ing on  the  window-ledge.  She  smoothed  the  petals  this  way  and  that, 
and  seemed  so  interested  in  botanical  investigation  that  Yates  wondered 
whether  she  was  paying  attention  to  what  he  was  saying  or  not  What 
his  plan  might  have  been  can  only  l)e  guessed;  for  the  fates  ordained 


if- 


.u. 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


AH  tell  for  sure 
ook  up, — Miss 

■e  in  a  minute." 
II  risk  mother, 
telieve  you  are. 
r  a  piece  of  her 
i.     J  jaw  it  in 


ras  handcuffed. 

i» 

him  one  swift 
,  if 

artlett;  do  you 

the  girl,  mis- 

oth  cruel  and 
ou.  No  such 
1.    You  shall 

ore  she  knew 
is  experience, 
e  mistakes  in 
rent  indigna- 
i  face  as  she 
i  nowaocom- 
30  completely 

'  Then  this 
apant  refrain, 
ber  mothei-," 
Id  maid  and 
she  did;  she 

•f  living  and 
1  plan  for  the 
our  approval 

renched  her- 
sment  in  the 
some  of  the 
jyes  fixed  on 
I  vase  stand- 
'ay  and  that, 
tes  wondered 
not.  What 
tes  ordained 


183 


one 


that  they  should  be  interrupted  at  this  critical  moment  by  the 
person  on  earth  who  could  make  Yates's  tongue  falter. 

The  outer  door  to  the  kitchen  burst  open,  and  Margaret  Howard 
stood  on  the  threshold,  her  lovely  f>u»  aflame  with  indignation,  and 
her  dark  hair  down  over  her  shoulders,  forming  a  picture  of  loveliness 
that  fairly  took  Yates's  breath  away.     She  did  not  notice  him. 

"  Oh,  Kitty,"  she  cried,  "  those  wretches  have  stolen  all  our  horses ! 
Is  your  father  here  ?" 

"  What  wretches?"  asked  Kitty,  ignoring  the  question,  and  startled 
by  the  sudden  advent  of  her  friend. 

"  The  Fenians.  They  have  taken  all  the  horses  that  were  in  the 
fields,  and  your  horses  as  well.    So  I  ran  over  to  tell  y^u." 

"  Have  they  taken  your  own  horse  too  ?" 

"Nt.  I  always  keep  Gypsy  in  the  stable.  The  thieves  did  not 
come  near  the  house.  Oh,  Mr.  Yates ! — I  did  not  s.;e  you."  And 
Margaret's  hand,  with  the  unconscious  vanity  of  a  woman,  sought  her 
dishevelled  hair,  which  Yates  thought  too  becoming  ever  to  be  put  in 
order  again. 

Margaret  reddened  as  she  realized  from  Kitty's  evident  embarrass- 
ment that  she  had  impulsively  broken  in  upon  a  conference  of  two. 

"  I  must  tell  your  father  about  it,"  she  said,  hurriedly,  and  before 
Yates  could  open  the  door  she  had  done  so  for  herself  Again  she  was 
taken  aback  to  see  so  many  sitting  round  the  table. 

There  was  a  moment's  silence  between  the  two  in  the  kitchen,  but 
the  spell  was  broken. 

"  I — I  don't  suppose  there  will  be  any  trouble  about  getting  back 
the  horses,"  said  Yates,  hesitatingly.  "  If  you  lose  them  the  govern- 
ment will  have  to  pay." 

"  I  presume  so,"  answered  Kitty,  coldly ;  then,  •*  Excuse  me,  Mr. 
Yates :  I  mustn't  stay  here  any  longer."  So  saying,  she  followed 
Margaret  into  the  other  room. 

Yates  drew  a  long  breath  of  relief.  All  his  old  difficulties  of 
preference  had  arisen  when  the  outer  door  burst  open.  He  felt  that 
he  had  had  a  narrow  escape,  and  began  to  wonder  if  he  had  really  com- 
mitted himself.  Then  the  fear  swept  over  him  that  Margaret  might 
have  noticed  her  firiend's  evident  confusion  and  surmised  its  cause.  He 
wondered  whether  this  would  help  him  or  hurt  him  with  Murgaret  if 
he  finally  made  up  his  mind  to  favor  her  with  his  serious  attentions. 
Still,  he  reflected  that,  after  all,  they  were  both  country-girls  and  would 
no  doubt  be  only  too  eager  to  accept  a  chance  to  live  in  New  York. 
Thus  his  mind  gradually  resumed  its  normal  state  of  self-confidence, 
and  he  argued  that  whatever  Margaret's  suspicions  were,  they  could  not 
but  make  him  more  precious  in  her  eyes.  Jle  knew  of  instances  where 
the  very  danger  of  losing  a  man  had  turned  a  woman's  wavering  mind 
entirely  in  the  Iran's  favor.  When  he  had  reached  this  point,  the  door 
from  the  dining-room  opened,  and  Stoliker  appeared. 

"  We  are  waiting  for  you,"  said  the  coustable.  ^ 

"  All  right.     I  am  ready." 

As  he  entered  the  room  he  saw  the  two  girls  standing  together 
talking  earnestly. 


"wr 


l^' 


184 


«« IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


ytt 


I         r.- 


wish  I  was  a  constable  fur  twenty-four  hours/'  cried  Mrs.  Bart>- 
lett.  "  I  would  be  hunting  horse-thieves,  instead  of  handcuffing  inno- 
cent men." 

"  Come  along,"  said  the  impassive  Stoliker,  taking  the  handcuffs 
from  his  pocket. 

"  If  you  three  men,"  continued  Mrs.  Bartlett,  "cannot  take  those 
two  to  camp,  or  to  jail,  or  anywhere  cise,  without  handcuffing  them, 
I'll  go  along  with  you  myself  and  protect  you  and  see  that  tl  sy  don't 
escape.  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself,  Sam  Stoliker,  if  you 
have  any  manhood  about  you, — which  1  doubt." 

"  I  must  do  my  duty.' 

The  professor  rose  from  his  chair.  "  Mr.  Stolikev,"  he  said,  with 
determination,  *'  ray  friend  and  myself  will  go  with  you  quietly.  We 
will  make  no  attempt  to  escape,  as  we  have  done  nothing  to  make  us 
fear  investigation,  fiut  I  give  you  fair  warning  that  if  you  attempt 
to  put  a  handcuff"  on  my  wrist  again  I  will  smash  you." 

A  cry  of  terror  from  one  of  the  girls  at  tho  prospect  of  a  fight 
caused  the  professor  to  realize  where  he  was.  He  turned  to  them,  and 
said,  in  a  contrite  voice, — 

,  *'  Oh  !  I  forgot  you  were  here.    I  sincerely  beg  your  pardon." 
?■  Margaret,  with  blazing  eyes,  cried, — 

"  Don't  beg  my  pardon,  out — ^smash  him." 

Then  a  consciousness  of  what  she  had  said  overcame  her,  and  the 
excited  girl  hid  her  blushing  face  on  her  friend's  shoulder,  while  Kitty 
lovingly  stroked  her  dark  tangled  hair. 

Reiimark  took  a  step  towards  them,  and  stopped.  Yates,  with  his 
usual  quickness,  came  to  the  rescue,  and  his  cheery  voice  relieved  the 
tension  of  the  situation  : 

"  Come,  come,  Stoliker,  don't  be  an  idiot.  I  do  not  object  in  the 
least  to  the  handcuffs ;  and  if  you  are  dying  to  handcuff*  somebody, 
handcuff*  me.  It  hasn't  struck  your  luminous  mind  that  you  have  not 
the  first  tittle  of  evidence  against  my  friend,  and  that  eveu  if  I  were 
the  greatest  criminal  in  America  the  fact  of  his  being  with  me  is  no 
crime.  The  truth  is,  Stoliker,  that  I  wouldn't  be  in  your  shoes  for  a 
good  many  dollars.  You  talk  a  great  deal  about  doing  your  duty, 
but  you  have  exceeded  it  in  the  case  of  the  professor.  I  hope  you  have 
no  property ;  for  the  professor  can,  if  he  likes,  make  you  pay  sweetly 
for  putting  the  handcuffe  on  him  without  a  warrant  or  even  without 
one  jot  of  evidence, — What  is  the  penalty  for  false  arrest,  Hiram  ?" 
continued  Yates,  suddenly  api)ealing  to  the  old  man.  "  I  think  it  is  a 
thousand  dollars." 

Hiram  said  gloomily  that  he  didn't  know.  Stoliker  was  hit  on  a 
tender  spot,  for  he  owned  a  farm. 

"Better  apologize  to  the  professor  and  let  us  get  along. — Good- 
by,  all. — Mrs.  Bartlett,  that  breakfast  was  the  very  best  I  ever 
tasted." 

The  good  woman  smiled  and  shook  hands  with  him. 

"  Good-by,  Mr.  Yates ;  and  I  hope  you  will  soon  come  back  to  have 
another." 

Stoliker  slipped  the  handcuff's  into  his  pocket  again,  and  mounted 


maemmmam 


l^^^^glggg^fgf/m^ 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


186 


ied  Mrs.  Bait- 
idcuffiag  inno- 

the  handcuffs 

not  take  those 
Icufling  them, 
hat  li  2y  doiri't 
toliker,  if  you 

he  said,  with 
quietly.  We 
g  to  make  us 

you  attempt 

ect  of  a 
to  them, 

pardon." 


her,  and  the 
while  Kitty 

ites,  with  his 
relieved  the 

•bject  in  the 
r  somebody, 
^ou  have  not 
eu  if  I  were 
me  is  no 
shoes  for  a 
your  duty, 
pe  you  have 
pay  sweetly 
^en  without 
t,  Hiram?" 
hink  it  is  a 


as  hit  on  a 

ag.— Good- 
est  I  ever 


wk  to  have 
d  mounted 


J. 


his  hone.  The  girls  from  the  veranda  watched  the  procession  move 
up  the  dusty  road.  Thev  were  silent,  and  had  even  forgotten  the 
exoiting  event  of  the  stealing  of  the  horses. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

When  the  two  prisoners  with  their  three  captors  came  in  sight  of 
the  Canadian  volunteers  they  beheld  a  scene  which  was  much  more 
military  than  the  Feniau  camp.  They  were  promptly  halted  and  ques- 
tioned by  a  picket  befoi-e  oomiug  to  the  main  body,  and  the  sentry 
knew  enough  not  to  shoot  until  he  had  asked  for  the  countersign. 
Passing  the  picket,  they  came  in  full  view  of  the  Canadian  force,  the 
men  of  whicn  looked  very  spick  and  span  in  uniforms  which  seemed 
painfully  new  in  the  clear  light  of  the  fair  June  morning.  The  guns, 
topped  by  a  bristle  of  bayonets  that  glittered  as  the  rising  sun  shone  on 
them,  were  stacked  with  neat  precision  here  and  there.  Tlie  men  were 
preparing  their  breakfast,  and  a  temporary  halt  had  been  called  for  that 
purpose.  The  volunteers  were  scattered  by  the  side  of  the  road  and  in 
the  fields.  Renmark  recognized  the  colors  of  the  regiment  from  his 
own  city,  and  noticed  that  there  was  wii^h  it  a  comnany  that  was  strange 
to  him.  Although  led  to  them  a  prisoner,  he  felt  a  glowing  pride  in 
the  regiment  and  their  trim  appearance,  a  pride  that  was  both  national 
and  civic.    He  instinctively  held  himself  more  erect  as  he  approached. 

"  Renmark,"  said  Yates,  looking  at  him  with  a  smile,  "  you  are 
making  a  thoroughly  British  mistake." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?    I  haven't  spoken." 

"  No,  but  I  see  it  in  your  eye.  You  are  underestimating  the  enemy. 
You  think  this  pretty  company  is  going  to  walk  over  that  body  of 
unkempt  tramps  we  saw  in  the  woods  this  morning." 

**  I  do  indeed,  if  the  tramps  wait  to  be  walked  over, — which  I  very 
much  doubt." 

•  "  That's  just  where  you  make  the  mistake.  Most  of  these  are  raw 
boys,  who  know  all  that  can  be  learned  of  war  on  a  cricket-field.  They 
will  be  the  worst-whipped  set  of  young  fellows  before  night  that  this 
part  of  the  country  has  ever  seen.  Wait  till  they  see  one  of  their  com- 
rades fall  with  the  blood  gushing  out  of  a  wound  in  his  breast.  If 
they  don't  turn  and  run,  then  I'm  a  Dutchman.  I've  seen  raw  recruits 
before.  They  should  have  a  company  of  older  men  here  who  have  seen 
service^  to  steady  them.  The  fellows  we  saw  this  morning  were  sleeping 
like  logs  in  the  damp  woods,  as  we  stepped  over  them.  They  are  vet- 
erans. What  will  be  but  a  mere  skirmish  to  them  will  seem  to  these 
boys  the  most  awful  tragedy  that  ever  happened." 

Some  of  the  volunteers  crowded  arouUTl  the  incomers,  eagerly 
inquiring  for  news  of  the  enemy.  The  Fenians  had  taken  the  pre- 
caution to  cut  all  the  tel^raph-wires  leading  out  of  Fort  Erie,  and 
hence  those  in  command  of  the  companies  did  not  even  know  that 
the  Fenians  had  left  that  locality.  They  were  now  on  their  way  to  a 
point  where  they  were  to  meet  Colonel  Peacocke's  force  of  regulars, — 
a  point  which  they  were  deatinal  never  to  reach.    Stoliker  sought  an 


fJ^ 


■M 


186 


"  JN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


officer  and  delivered  up  his  prisoners,  together  with  the  inoriminating 
{wper  that  Yates  had  handed  to  him.  The  officer's  decision  was  short 
and  sharp,  as  military  decisions  are  generally  supposed  to  be.  He 
ordered  the  constable  to  take  both  of  the  prisoners  and  put  them  in 
jail  at  Fort  Col  borne.  There  was  no  time  now  for  an  inquiiry  into  the 
case  ;  that  could  come  afterwards ;  and  as  long  as  the  men  were  jafe  in 
jail  everything  would  be  all  right.  To  this  the  constable  mildly  inter- 
posed two  objections.  In  the  first  place,  he  said,  he  was  with  the  volun- 
teers, uot  in  his  capacity  as  constable,  but  in  the  }X)6ition  of  guide  and 
man  wht  <  knew  the  country.  In  the  secoud  place,  there  was  no  jail  at 
Port  Col  borne. 

"  Where  is  the  nearest  jail  ?" 

"  The  jail  of  the  county  is  at  Welland,  the  coraty  town,"  replied 
the  constable. 

"Very  web:  take  tlieni  there." 

"  Viut  I  am  here  a?  guide,"  repeated  Stoliker. 

The  ohicy.-  ho>itat:ed  for  a  moment.  "  You  haven't  handeufis  with 
you,  I  preauiie?" 

**  Yc<!,  I  have,"  said  Stolikor,  producing  the  instrument. 

"  Well,  then,  handcuff  them  togeihur,  and  I  will  send  one  of  the 
company  over  to  Welland  with  them.     How  far  is  it  across  country  ?" 

Stoliker  told  him. 

The  officer  called  one    f  th^  volunteers,  and  said  to  him, — 

"  You  are  to  make  your  way  across  country  to  Welland  and  deliver 
these  men  up  to  the  jailer  there.  They  will  be  handcuffed  together,  but 
you  take  a  revolver  with  yt  u,  and  if  they  give  you  any  trouble^  shoot 
them." 

Thd  volunteer  reddened  and  drew  himself  up.  "I  am  not  a 
policeman,"  he  said.    "  I  am  a  soldier," 

**  V^ery  well,  then,  your  fiidt  duty  as  a  soldier  is  to  obey  ordera.  I 
order  you  to  take  these  men  to  Welland." 

The  volunteers  had  crowded  around  as  thib  discussion  went  on. 
and  a  murmur  rose  among  them  at  the  order  of  the  officer.  Ihey 
evidently  sympathized  with  their  comrade's  objection  to  the  duties 
of  a  policeman.  One  of  them  made  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and 
cried, — 

"  Hello  I  this  h  the  professor.  This  is  Mr.  Benmark.  He's  no 
Fenian."  Two  or  thre^  more  of  the  University  students  re'vigniaed 
Renmark,  and,  pushing  up  to  him,  greetel  him  wwmly.  He  was 
evidently  a  favorite  with  his  cluss.  Amoag  others,  young  Howard 
pressed  forward. 

"  It  is  nonsense,"  he  cried,  "  talking  nbuut  eend'eg  Proiessor  Ren- 
mark to  jail.  He  is  no  more  a  Fenian  than  Governor -Ge"eral  Monck. 
We'll  all  go  bail  for  the  prcfessor." 

The  officer  wavered.  "  If  you  knov  himj"  he  said,  "that  is  a  dif- 
ferent matter.  But  this  other  maa  has  a  letter  from  the  commander 
of  the  Fenians  recommending  him  to  the  consideration  of  all  friends  of 
the  Fenian  cauae.     I  can't  let  him  ec  free." 

"Are  you  the  chief  ia  command  here?"  asked  Boumark. 

"  No,  I  am  not." 


r^ 


ItU 


.    ..  ^'l—li 


m'-'sitviiS^A:, 


the  incriminating 
ecision  was  short 
Jseti  to  be.  He 
»iid  put  tiiem  in 
inquii-y  into  (he 
tneu  were  ^afe  in 
ble  mildly  inter- 
1  with  tl»a  voliiii- 
on  of  guide  and 
re  was  no  jail  at 


f  town,"  replied 


handcuffi  with 

lent. 

lend  one  of  the 

iross  country  ?" 

him, — 

ind  and  deliver 
id  together,  but 
'  trouble,  shoot 

"I  am  not  a 

bey  ordera.    I 

sion  went  on, 
officer.  Ihey 
to  the  duties 
he  crowd,  and 

irk.  He's  no 
its  re^^nized 
dy-  He  was 
•ung  Howard 

i'olessor  Ren- 
"eral  Monok. 

that  is  a  dif- 
0  commander 
il!  friends  of 

fk. 


"m  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS. 

"  Mr.  Yates  is  a  friend  of  mine  who  is  here  with  me  on  his  vaca- 
tion. He  is  a  New  York  jourup'ist,  and  has  nothing  in  (iommon  with 
the  iuvatkrs.  If  you  insist  on  /^ending  him  to  Welland  I  must  de- 
mand that  we  be  taken  before  i\.d  officer  in  commiuHJ.  In  any  tase 
he  and  I  stand  or  fall  together.  I  am  exactly  as  guilty  or  innocent  as 
he  is." 


"  We  can't  bother  the  colonel  alwut  every  triviality." 
**  A  man's  liberty  is  no  triviality.    What  in  the  name  of  i^mraoD 
sense  are  you,  fighting  for  but  for  lilKirty  ?" 

"  Thanks,  Renuuirk,  thanks,"  said  Yates,  "  but  I  don't  care  to  see 
the  colonel,  and  I  shall  welcome  Welland  jail.  I  am  tired  of  all  this 
bother.  I  came  here  for  rest  and  quint,  and  I  am  going  to  have 
them,  if  I  have  to  go  to  jail  for  them.  I'm  coming  reluctantly  t«  the 
belief  that  jail's  the  most  comfortable  place  in  Canada,  anyhow." 
"  But  this  is  an  outrage,"  cried  the  professor,  indignantly. 
"Of  cturse  it  is,"  replied  Yates,  wei»rily ;  "  but  the  woods  are  full 
of  them.  There's  always  outrages  going  on.  especially  iv  so-called 
free  countries ;  therefore  one  more  or  less  won't  make  much  differ- 
ence.— Come,  officer,  who's  going  to  take  me  to  Welland?  or  shall  I 
have  to  go  by  myself?  I'm  a  Feniau  from  'way  back,  and  came  here 
especially  to  overturn  the  throne  and  take  it  home  with  me.  For 
haven's  sake  know  your  own  mind  one  way  oi'  other,  and  let  us  end 
this  conference." 

The  officer  was  wroth,  H*.  speedily  gave  the  order  to  Stoliker 
to  handcuff  the  prisoner  to  himself  and  deliver  him  to  the  iailer  at 
Welland.  '' 

"But  I  want  assistance,"  objected  Stoliker.  "The  prisoner  is  a 
bigger  man  than  I  am."  The  volunteers  laughed  as  Sitoliker  men- 
tioned this  self-evident  fact. 

"  If  any  one  likes  to  go  with  you  he  can  go.  I  shall  give  no 
orders." 

No  one  volunteered  to  accompany  the  constable. 
"  Take  this  revolver  with  you,"  continued  the  officer,  "  and  if  lie 
attempts  to  escape  shoot  him.    Besides,  you  know  the  way  to  Welland, 
so  I  can't  send  anybody  in  your  place,  even  if  I  wanted  to." 

"Howard  knows  the  way,"  persisted  Stoliker.  That  young  man 
spoke  up  with  great  indignation  : 

"Yes,  but  Howard  isn't  constable,  and  Stoliker  is.  I'm  not 
going." 

Renmerk  went  up  to  his  friend. 

"  Who's  acting  foolishly  now,  Y^tpf.  ?"  he  said.  "  Why  don't  you 
insist  on  seeing  the  colonel  ?  The  chances  are  ten  to  one  that  you 
would  be  allowed  off." 

"  Don't  make  pny  mistake.  The  colonel  will  very  likely  be  some 
fussy  individual  who  magniiies  his  own  importance  and  who  will  send 
a  squad  of  vclunteers  to  escort  me,  and  I  want  to  avoid  that.  Thes<5 
officers  always  stick  by  each  other  :  they're  bound  to.  I  want  to  go 
alone  -yith  Stoliker.     I  have  2  scoie  to  settle  with  him." 

"  Now,  don't  dc  anything  rash.  You've  done  nothing  so  far,  but 
if  you  assault  an  officer  of  the  law  that  will  be  a  different  matter." 


</^M»' 


188 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


m 


II 


"  Satan  reproving  sin.  Who  prevented  you  from  bitting  Stoliker 
a  short  time  since  ?" 

"  Well,  I  was  wron(5  then.     You  are  wrong  now." 

"See  here,  Renny,"  whiapered  YatcH,  "you  get  back  to  the  tent 
and  see  that  everything's  all  right.  I'll  be  with  you  in  an  hour  or  so. 
Don't  i<M)k  so  frightened.  I  won't  hurt  Stoliker.  But  I  want  to  see 
this  fight,  and  I  won't  get  there  if  the  a>lonel  sends  an  escort.  I'm 
going  to  use  Stoliker  as  a  shield  when  the  bullets  begin  flyi  ig. 

The  bugles  Hounded  for  the  troop.s  to  fall  in,  and  Stoliker  very  rf- 
luctautly  attached  one  clasp  of  the  handouff  around  his  own  lefl  wrist 
while  he  snapped  the  other  on  the  right  wrist  of  Yates,  who  embar- 
rassed him  with  kindly  assistance.  The  two  manacled  men  disap- 
peared down  the  road,  while  the  volunteers  rapidly  fell  in,  to  continue 
their  morning's  march. 

Young  Howard  beckoned  to  tne  professor  from  his  place  in  the 
ranks.     "  I  say,  professor,  how  did  you  happen  to  bo  down  this  way  ?" 

"  I  have  l)een  camping  out  here  for  a  week  or  more  with  Yates, 
who  is  an  old  school-fellow  of  mine." 

"  What  a  shame  to  have  him  led  off  in  that  way  !  But  he  seemed 
to  rather  like  the  idea.  Jolly  fellow,  I  should  say.  But  I  wi-h  I  had 
known  you  were  iu  this  neighborhood.  My  folks  live  near  here.  They 
would  only  have  been  too  glad  to  be  of  assistance  to  you." 

"  They  have  been  of  assistance  to  me,  and  exceedingly  kind  as 
well." 

"  What  ?  You  know  them  ?  All  of  them  ?  Have  you  met  Mar- 
garet?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  professor,  slowly,  but  his  glance  fell  as  it  encoun- 
tered the  eager  eyes  of  the  youth.  It'  was  evident  that  Margaret  was 
the  brother's  favorite. 

"  Fall  back,  there,"  cried  the  oflBoer  to  Renmark. 

"  May  I  march  along  with  them  ?  or  can  you  give  me  a  gun  and 
let  me  ttke  jiart?" 

"  No,"  said  the  officer,  with  some  hauteur ;  "  this  is  no  place  for 
civilians."  Again  the  professor  smiled,  as  he  reflected  that  tne  whole 
company,  as  far  as  martial  experience  went,  were  merely  civilians 
dressed  in  uniform,  and  he  became  grave  again  when  he  remembered 
Yates's  ominous  prediction  i-egarding  them. 

"I  say,  Mr.  Renmark,"  cried  young  Howard,  as  the  company 
moved  off,  "  if  you  see  any  of  them  don't  tell  them  I'm  here, — 
especially  Margaret.  It  r  ight  make  them  uneasy.  I'll  get  leave 
when  this  is  over  and  drop  in  on  them." 

The  boy  spoke  with  the  hopeful  confidence  of  youtii,  and  had 
evidently  no  prem(mitiou  of  how  his  appointment  would  be  kept 
Renmark  left  the  road  and  struck  across  country  for  the  tent,  which 
he  reached  without  further  molestation,  finding  it  as  he  had  left  it. 

Meanwhile,  two  men  were  tramping  steadily  along  the  dusty  road 
towards  Welland,  the  captor  moody  and  silent,  the  prisoner  talkative 
and  entertaining.  Yates's  conversation  often  went  beyond  the  enter- 
tainment, and  becam* ,  at  times,  instructive.  He  discussed  the  affairs 
of  bqth  cuuntri^  showed  a  way  out  of  all  political  difficulties,  gave 


v«. 


mmmfimmmi' 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


0  hlttiug  Stoliker 

back  to  the  lent 
in  an  hour  or  ho. 
iut  I  want  to  see 
[  an  eacort.  I'm 
in  flvi  ig." 

Stoliker  very  rr- 
lis  own  left  wrist 
ates,  who  erabar- 
icled  men  disap- 
II  in,  to  continue 

his  place  in  the 
iown  this  way  ?" 
Qore  with  Yates, 

But  he  seemed 
Jut  I  wi-h  I  had 
ear  here.     Thev 
ou.» 
idingly  kind  as 

e  you  met  Mar- 

il  as  it  encoun- 
t  Margaret  was 


me  a  gun  and 

is  no  place  for 
that  the  whole 
leroly  civihans 
le  remembered 

the  company 
1  I'm  here, — 
I*H  get  leave 

>uth,  and  had 
)uld  be  kept, 
le  tent,  which 
lad  left  it. 
he  dusty  road 
oner  talkative 
•nd  the  enter- 
ied  the  affairs 
Bculties,  gave 


IM 


reasons  for  the  practical  use  of  oororoon  sense  in  every  emergency, 
]>a»*Hed  opinions  on  the  methcHls  of  agriculture  adopted  in  various  parts 
of  the  country,  told  stories  of  the  war,  gave  instances  of  men  in  captivity 
murdering  those  who  were  in  charge  of  them,  detluced  from  these 
anecdotes  the  foolishness  of  resisting  lawful  authority  lawfully  exer- 
cised, and  in  general  showeil  tliat  he  was  a  man  who  re8pecte<I  {rawer 
and  the  exensiMe  thereof.  Suddenly  branching  to  more  practical  matters, 
he  exclaimed, — 

"Say,  Stoliker,  how  many  taverns  are  there  between  here  and 
Wei  land?" 

Stoliker  had  never  counted  them. 

••  Well,  that's  encouraging,  anyhow.  If  there  are  so  many  that  it 
requiu-8  an  effort  of  the  memory  to  enimierate  them,  we  will  likely 
have  something  to  drink  before  long."  ; 

"  I  never  drink  while  on  duty,'' said  Stoliker,  curtly. 

"Oh^  well,  don't  apologize  for  it.  Every  man  has  his  failings. 
I'll  be  only  too  happ^  to  give  you  some  instructions.  I  have  ac- 
quired the  useful  practice  of  being  able  to  drink  both  on  and  off  duty. 
Anything  can  he  done,  Stoliker,  if  you  give  your  mind  to  it.  I 
don't  believe  in  the  word  '  can't,'  either  with  or  without  the  inverted 
comma." 

Stoliker  did  not  answer,  and  Yates  yawned  wearily. 

"  I  wish  you  would  hire  a  rig,  constable.  I'm  tired  of  walking. 
I've  been  on  my  feet  ever  since  three  this  morning." 

"  I  have  no  authority  to  hire  a  buggy." 

"  But  what  do  you  do  when  a  prisoner  r-^fuses  to  move  ?" 

*.*  I  make  him  move,"  said  Stoliker,  shortly. 

"  Ah,  I  see.  That's  a  good  plan,  and  saves  bills  at  the  livery- 
stable." 

They  came  to  a  tempting  bank  by  the  road-side,  when  Yates 
cried, — 

"  Let's  sit  down  and  have  a  rest.  I'm  tired  out.  The  sun  is  hot 
and  the  road  dusty.  You  can  let  me  have  half  an  hour ;  the  day's 
young  yet." 

"  1 11  let  you  have  fifteen  minutes." 

They  sat  down  together.  "  I  wish  a  team  would  come  along,"  said 
Yates,  with  a  sigh. 

"  No  chance  of  a  teSm,  with  most  of  the  horses  in  the  neighborhood 
stolen  and  the  troops  on  the  ro&ds." 

"  That's  so,"  assented  Yates,  sleepily. 

He  was  evidently  done  out,  for  his  chin  dropped  on  his  breast  and 
his  eyes  closed.  His  breathing  came  soft  and  regular,  and  his  body 
leaned  towards  the  constable,  who  sat  bolt  upright.  Yates's  left  arm 
fell  across  the  knees  of  Stoliker,  and  he  leaned  more  and  more  heavily 
against  him.  The  constable  did  not  know  whether  he  was  shamming 
or  not,  but  he  took  no  risks.  He  kept  his  grasp  firm  on  the  butt  of 
the  revolver.  Yet,  he  reflected,  Yates  could  surely  not  meditate  an 
attempt  on  his  weapon,  for  he  had  a  few  minutes  before  told  him  a 
story  about  a  prisoner  who  escaped  in  exactly  that  way.  Stoliker  was 
suspicious  of  the  good  intentions  of  the  man  he  had  in  charge;  he 


190 


"IS  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


waH  altogether  too  polite  and  g<x)d-natured ;  and,  besidea,  the  oonstable 
dumbly  Telt  that  the  priMuner  wan  a  much  cleverer  man  than  he. 

"  tivri'.,  ait  up,"  he  Haid,  gruffly.  "  I'm  not  ])aid  to  curry  you,  you 
know." 

"  What's  that  ?  What'a  that  ?  What'«  that  ?"  crit«d  Yate«,  rmpidly, 
blinking  his  uyvH  and  ntraightening  up.  "Oh,  it'H  only  you,  8tolilcer» 
I  thouglit  it  was  my  friend  Iit<ninark.     Huve  I  been  anleep?" 

"  Either  tlmt  or  pretending, — I  don't  know  which,  nor  <lo  I  care." 
"Ohl  I  must  have  been  pretending,"  answered  Yates,  drowsily ; 
"  I  can't  have  dropped  anleep.     How  long  have  we  been  here?" 
"  Almut  five  minutes." 

"  All  right."  And  Yaics's  head  began  to  droop  again. 
This  time  the  constable  felt  no  doubt  about  it.  No  aian  could 
imitate  sleep  so  well.  8evi-ral  times  Yates  I'lCarly  fell  forward,  and  each 
time  savixl  hiraHelf,  with  the  usual  luck  of  a  sloeper  or  a  drunkard. 
Nevertheless  Stoliker  never  took  his  hand  from  hi8  revolver.  Suddenly 
with  n  (rreatei  lurch  than  usual  Yates  pitohed  head-first  down  the  bunk, 
carrying  the  oonstable  with  him.  The  steel  bund  of  the  handcuft' 
nipped  the  wrist  of  Stoliker,  who,  with  an  oath  and  a  cry  of  pain,  in- 
stinctively grasped  the  links  between,  with  his  right  haml,  to  save  his 
wrist.  Like  a  cat  Yates  was  u|K)u  him,  showing  marvellaus  agility 
for  a  man  who  had  jus  tumbled  in  a  heap.  The  next  instant  he  held 
aloft  the  revolver,  cryi  (^,  triumphantly, — 
"  How's  that,  umpire?     Out.  I  ex^»eot." 

The  constable,  with  set  teeth,  still  rubbed  his  wounded  wrist,  real- 
mng  the  hopelessness  of  a  struggle. 

"  Now,  Stoliker,"  8ai<l  Yates,  pointing  the  pistol  at  him,  "  what 
have  you  to  say  before  I  fire  ?" 

"  Nothing,  answeral  the  constable,  "  except  that  you  will  be 
hanged  at  Welland,  instead  of  staying  a  few  days  iu  jail. 

Yates  laughed.  "That's  not  bad,  Stoliker,  and  I  really  believe 
there's  some  grit  in  you,  if  you  are  a  man-catcher.  Still,  yoii  were  not 
in  very  much  danger  as  perhaiw  you  knew.  Now,  if  you  should  want 
this  pistol  again,  just  watch  where  it  alights."  And  Yates,  taking  the 
weapon  by  tne  muzzle,  tossed  it  as  far  as  he  could  into  the  field. 

Stoliker  watched  its  flight  intently,  then  putting  his  hand  into  his 
pocket  he  took  out  some  small  object  and  flung  it  as  nearly  as  he  could 
to  the  spot  where  the  revolver  fell. 

**  Is  that  how  you  mark  the  place  ?"  asked  Yates,  "  or  is  it  some  spell 
that  will  enable  you  to  find  the  pistol  ?" 

"  Neither,"  answered  the  constable,  quietly.  "  It  is  the  key  of  the 
handcufls.,    The  duplicate  is  at  Welland.'* 

Yates  whistled  a  prolonged  note  and  looked  with  admiration  at  the 
little  man.  He  saw  the  hopelessness  of  the  situation.  If  he  attempted 
to  search  for  tho  key  in  the  long  grass  the  chances  were  ten  to  one  that 
Stoliker  would  stumble  on  the  pistol  before  Yatea  found  the  key,  in 
which  case  the  reporter  would  be  once  more  at  the  mercy  of  the  !»"'. 

"  Stoliker,  you're  evidently  fonder  of  my  company  than  I  &^  of 
yours.  That  wasn't  a  bad  strategic  move  on  your  part,  but  it  may 
oause  you  some  personal  inconvenience  before  I  get  these  handcuffs  filed 


.j..^. 


•'/AT  THE   MIDST  OF  ALARMS' 


in 


iea,  the  oonstablt 

n  than  he. 

o  curry  you,  yoii 

•<i  Yaten,  rapidly, 

ily  you,  Htoliker. 
wleep  ?" 
nor  do  I  care." 
Yates,  drowHily  ; 
en  here?" 

jaln. 

No  man  could 
)rward,  and  each 

or  a  drunkard. 
Iver.  Suddenly 
down  the  bunk. 
)f  the  handcuff 
cry  of  pain,  in- 
in(l,  to  Have  his 
irvellous  agility 
'  instant  be  held 


ded  wrist,  real- 
at  him,  "  what 
t  you   will   be 

L.    „ 

really  believe 

you  were  not 

on  should  want 

ites,  taking  the 

he  field. 

hand  into  his 

iy  as  he  could 

is  it  some  spell 

the  key  of  the 

niration  at  the 
he  attempted 
n  to  one  that 
I  the  key,  in 
of  the  ]»"', 

than  I  au.  of 
but  it  may 

laQdouflTs  filed 


off.  I'm  not  going  to  Welland  this  trip,  a«  you  may  be  diMipiM)inted 
to  learn.  I  have  gone  with  you  as  far  as  I  intend  to.  You  wdl  now 
«)me  with  me." 

"  I  shall  not  move,"  replied  4,no  oonstablo,  flrraly. 

"  Very  well,  stay  there,"  said  Yatt.>8,  twisting  his  band  around  so 
as  to  grasp  the  chain  t'^at  joined  the  ctrfltt.  (Totting  a  firm  grip,  he 
walko<I  up  the  road  down  which  they  had  trumiKHl  a  fVw  minutes 
before.  Stoliker  set  his  teeth  and  tried  to  hold  his  ground,  but  was 
forced  to  follow.  Nothing  wiut  said  by  either  until  several  hundred 
yunls  were  thus  traversed.     Then  Yat«!«  HtomMxl. 

"  Having  now  demonstrated  to  you  the  fact  that  you  muHt  accom- 
pany me,  I  nope  you  will  show  yourself  a  sensible  man,  Stoliker,  and 
come  with  me  quietly.  It  will  be  less  exhausting  for  both  of  us,  and 
all  the  sarao  in  the  end.  You  (»n  do  nothing  until  you  get  help.  I 
am  going  to  see  the  fight,  which  I  feel  sure  will  be  a  brief  one,  so  I 
donl  want  to  lose  any  more  time  in  getting  back.  In  order  to  avoid 
meeting  people  and  having  me  ox|)lain  to  tnem  that  you  are  my  pris- 
oner, I  propose  we  go  through  the  fields." 

One  dinerenoe  betwcjn  a  fool  and  a  wise  man  is  that  the  wise 
man  always  accepts  the  inevitablf .  The  constable  was  wise.  The  two 
crossed  the  rail  fence  into  the  fields  and  walke<l  along  peaceably  to- 
gether, Stoliker  uilent  as  usual  with  the  grim  confidence  of  a  man  who 
IS  certain  of  ultimate  success,  who  has  tlie  nation  behind  him  with  all 
its  machinery  working  in  his  favor;  Yatee  talkative,  argumentative, 
and  instructive  by  turns,  oooasionally  breaking  forth  into  song  when 
the  unresponsiveiieas  of  the  other  rendered  conversation  difficult. 

"  Stoliker,  how  supremely  lovely  and  quiet  and  restful  are  the  silent 
scented  spreading  fields!  How  soothing  to  a  spirit  tired  of  the  city's 
din  is  this  solitude,  broken  only  by  the  singing  of  the  birds  and  the 
drowsy  droning  of  the  bee  erroneously  termed  '  bumble' !  The  green 
fields,  the  shady  trees,  the  sweet  freshness  of  the  summer  air,  untainted 
by  city  smoke,  and  over  all  the  eternal  serenity  of  the  blue  and  cloud- 
less sky, — how  can  human  spite  and  human  passion  exist  in  such 
a  paradise?  Does  it  all  not  make  you  feel  as  if  you  were  an  innocent 
child  atrain,  with  motives  pure  and  conscience  white?" 

If  Stoliker  felt  like  an  innocent  child  he  did  not  look  it.  With 
clouded  brow  he  eagerly  scanned  the  empty  fields,  hoping  for  help. 
But  if  the  constable  made  no  reply  there  was  an  answer  that  electrified 
Yates  and  put  all  thought  of  the  beauty  of  the  country  out  of  his 
mind.  The  dull  report  of  a  musket  far  in  front  of  them  suddenly 
broke  the  silence,  followed  by  several  scattering  shots  and  then  the 
roar  of  a  volley.  This  was  sharply  answered  by  the  ring  of  rifles  to 
the  right.     With  an  oath  Yates  broke  into  a  run. 

"They're  at  it!"  he  cried,  "and  all  on  account  of  your  confounded 
obstinacy  I  shall  miss  the  whole  show.  The  Fenians  have  opened  fire, 
and  the  Canadians  have  not  been  long  in  replying." 

The  din  of  the  firing  now  became  incessant.  The  veteran  in  Yates 
was  aroused.  He  was  like  an  old  war-horse  who  again  feels  the  intoxi- 
cating smell  of  b,  i,11°-8moke.  The  lunacy  of  gunpowder  shone  in  his 
gleaming  eye. 


\Ki 


192 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


"  Come  on,  you  loitering  idiot !"  he  cried  to  the  constable,  who  had 
difficulty  in  keeping  pace  with  hira, — "  come  on,  or,  by  the  gods,  I'll 
break  your  wrist  across  a  fence-rail  and  tear  this  brutal  iron  from  it." 

The  savage  face  of  the  prisoner  was  transformed  with  the  passion 
of  war,  and  for  the  first  time  that  day  Stoliker  quailed  before  the 
insane  glate  of  his  eyes.  But,  if  he  waa  afraid,  he  did  not  show  his 
fear  to  Yates. 

"  Come  on,  you .'"  he  shouted,  springing  ahead  and  giving  a  twist 
to  the  handcuffs  >vell  known  to  those  who  have  to  deal  with  refractory 
crimiiials.     "  I  am  as  eager  to  see  the  fight  as  you  are." 

The  sharp  pain  brought  Yates  to  nis  senses  again.  He  laughed, 
and  said,  "  That's  the  ticket.  I'm  with  you.  Perhaps  you  would  not 
be  in  such  a  hurry  if  you  knew  that  I  am  going  into  the  thick  of  the 
fight  and  intend  to  use  you  as  a  shield  from  the  bullets.'* 

"  That's  all  right,"  answered  the  little  constable,  panting.  "  Two 
sidra  are  firing.  I'll  shield  you  on  one  side,  and  you  11  have  to  shield 
me  on  the  other." 

Again  Yates  laughed,  and  they  ran  silently  together.  Avoiding 
thr  houses,  they  came  out  at  the  Ridge  Road.  The  smoke  rolled  up 
above  the  trees,  showing  where  the  battle  was  going  on.  some  distance 
beyond.  Yates  made  the  constable  cross  the  fence  and  the  road  and  take 
to  the  fields  again,  bringing  him  around  behind  Bartlett's  house  and 
barn.  No  one  was  visible  near  the  house  except  Kitty  Bartlett,  who 
stood  at  the  back,  watching  with  pale  and  anxious  face  the  roll  of  the 
smoke,  now  and  then  covering  her  ears  with  her  hands  as  the  sound  of 
an  extra  loud  volley  assailed  them.  Stoliker  lifted  up  his  voice  and 
shouted  for  help. 

"  If  you  do  that  again."  cried  Yaies,  clutching  him  by  the  throat, 
"  I'll  choke  you." 

But  he  did  not  need  to  do  it  again.  The  girl  heard  the  cry,  turner! 
with  a  frightened  look,  and  was  about  to  fly  into  the  house,  wheu 
she  recognized  the  two.  Then  she  came  towards  them.  Yates  took 
his  hand  away  from  the  constable's  throat. 

"  Where  is  your  father  or  brother?"  demanded  the  constable. 

"I  don't  kno\''" 

"  Where  is  your  mothe'-  ?" 

"  She  is  over  witL  ^.trs.  Howard,  v.  ho  r.  ill." 

"  Are  you  all  alone ?' ' 

"Yes." 

"  Then  I  command  you  in  the  nai^e  of  the  queen  to  give  no  assist- 
»nce  to  this  prisoner,  but  to  do  as  I  tell  you." 

"  And  I  command  you  in  the  name  of  the  Presideui,"  cried  Yates. 
"  to  keep  your  mouth  shut  and  not  to  addr^iss  a  lady  like  that. — Kitty,' 
he  continued,  in  a  milder  tone,  "could  you  tell  me  where  to  get  a  file, 
so  that  I  may  cut  these  wrist-ornaments?  Don't  you  get  it.  You  are 
to  do  nothing.  Just  indicate  where  the  fi](  is.  The  law  mustn't  have 
any  hold  on  you,  «s  it  seems  to  have  on  me." 

"  Why  don't  you  make  him  unlock  them?'  asked  Kitty. 

"  Because  the  villain  threw  away  the  key  in  the  fields." 

"  He  couldn't  have  done  that." 


I  iiMii^r  M««>jWg!g!l 


mmm« 


■'i;'^*^«?ff<i^tinft3'«ft"^lff'»"*«'" 


t^th 


■iiidllMk  MMMMMMMilrilMMiaiK.'CM 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


193 


>  constable,  who  ha<i 
>r,  by  the  gods,  I'll 
•utal  iron  from  it." 
2d  with  the  pascMon 
quailed  before  the 
le  did  not  show  his 

and  giving  a  twist 
leal  with  refractory 
ire."  ^ 

rein.  He  laughed, 
laps  you  would  not 
ito  the  thick  of  the 
lets.-' 

B,  panting.  "Two 
ou^ll  have  to  shield 

gether.  Avoiding 
le  smoke  rolled  up 
■  on.  some  distance 
I  the  road  and  take 
artlett's  house  and 
^itty  Bartlett,  who 
ace  the  roll  of  the 
ia  as  the  sound  of 
up  his  voice  and 

lira  by  the  throat, 

ird  the  cry,  lum&i 

the  house,  wheu 

lem.     Yates  took 

je  constable. 


to  give  no  assist- 

iii,"  cried  Yates, 
ce  that.— Kitty," 
here  to  get  a  file, 
get  it.  You  are 
law  mustn't  have 

Kitty. 
Ids." 


■i---  The  ^instable  caught  his  breath. 
"  But  he  did.     I  saw  him." 

"  And  I  fcttw  him  unlock  them  at  breakfast.    The  key  was  on  the 
end  of  his  watch-chain.     He  hasn't  thrown  that  away." 

She  made  .%  move  to  ^ake  out  his  watch-chain,  but  Yates  stopped 
her: 

'*  Doa't  toiich  him.  I'm  playing  a  lone  hand  here."  He  jerked 
out  the  chain,  and  the  real  key  dangled  from  it. 

"  Well,  Stoliker,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  know  which  to  admire  most, 
your  c'everL>ess  and  pluck,  my  stupidity,  or  Miss  Bartlett's  acuteness 
of  observatioo. — Can  we  get  into  the  barn,  Kitty?" 
"  YeSp  but  you  mustn't  hurt  him." 

"  No  fear.  I  think  too  much  of  him.  Don't  you  come  in.  I'll 
be  out  in  a  momeut,  like  the  medium  from  a  spiritualistic  dark 
cabinet." 

Entering  the  barn,  Yates  forced  the  constable  up  against  the  square 
oaken  post  which  was  part  of  the  framework  of  the  building,  and 
which  form<)d  one  side  of  the  perpent'icular  ladder  that  led  to  the 
top  of  the  hay-mow. 

"  Now,  StoliKsr,"  he  said,  solemnly,  "  you  realize,  of  course,  that  I 
don't  want  to  hurt  you,  yet  you  also  realize  that  I  must  hurt  you  if  you 
attempt  any  tricks.  I  can't  take  any  risks  ;  please  remember  that ;  and 
recollect  that  by  the  time  you  are  free  again  I  shall  be  in  the  State 
of  New  York.  So  don't  compel  me  to  smash  your  head  against  this 
post."  He,  with  some  trouble,  unlocked  the  clasp  on  his  own  wrist ; 
then,  drawing  Stoliker's  right  hand  around  the  post,  he  snapped  the 
same  clasp  on  the  constable's  hitherto  free  wrist.  The  unfortunate 
mar,  with  his  cheek  against  the  oak,  was  in  the  comical  position  of 
lovingly  embracing  the  post. 

"  I'll  get  you  a  chair  from  the  kitchen,  so  that  you  will  be  more 
comfortable, — unless,  like  Samson,  you  can  pull  down  the  supports. 
Then  I  must  bid  you  good-by." 

Yates  went  out  to  the  ^irl,  who  was  waiting  for  him. 

"I  want  to  borrow  a  kitchen  chair,  Kitty,'°he  said,  "so  tb'jt  poor 
Stoliker  will  get  a  rest." 

They  walked  towards  the  house.  Yates  noticed  that  the  firing 
had  ceased,  except  a  desultory  shot  here  and  there  across  the  country. 

"I  shall  have  to  get  over  the  border  as  quickly  as  I  can,"  he  coi 
tinued.     "  This  country  is  getting  too  hot  for  me.'* 

"  Yo'i  are  much  safer  here,"  said  the  girl,  with  downcast  eyes.  "  A 
man  has  brought  the  news  that  the  United  States  gunboats  are  sail- 
ing up  and  down  the  river,  making  prisoners  of  all  who  attempt  to 
cross  from  this  side." 

"  You  don't  say  !  Well,  I  might  have  known  that.  Then  what 
am  I  to  do  with  Stoliker?  I  can't  keep  him  tied  up  here.  Yet  the 
moment  he  gets  loose  I'm  done  for." 

"  Perhaps  mother  could  persuade  him  not  to  do  anything  more. 
Shall  I  go  for  her?" 

"  I  don't  think  it  would  be  any  use.    Stoliker's  a  stubborn  animal. 
He  has  suffered  too  much  at  my  hands  to  be  in  a  forgiving  mood. 
Vol.  Lll.— .'3 


con- 


V\sd 


194 


'  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS  ' 


We'll  bring  him  a  chair,  anyhow,  and  see  the  effect  of  kindness  on 
him." 

When  the  chair  was  placed  at  Stoliker's  disposal,  he  sat  down  upon 
it,  still  hugging  the  post  with  an  enforced  fervency  that  in  spite  of  the 
solemnity  of  the  oocasior.  nearly  made  Kitty  laugh,  and  lit  up  her  eyes 
with  the  mischievousnest;  ^hat  had  always  delighted  Yates. 

"  How  long  am  I  to  be  kept  here  ?"  asked  the  constable. 

"  Oil,  not  long,"  answered  Yates,  cheerily ;  "  not  a  mornent  longer 
than  is  necessary.  I'll  telegraph  when  I'm  safe  in  New  York  State :  so 
you  won't  be  here  more  than  a  day  or  two." 

This  assurance  did  not  appear  to  bring  much  comfort  to  Stoliker. 

"  Look  here,"  he  said,  "  I  guess  I  know  as  well  as  the  next  man 
when  I'm  beaten.  I  have  been  thinking  all  this  over.  I  am  under 
the  sheriff's  orders,  and  not  under  the  orders  of  that  officer.  I  don't 
believe  you've  done  anything  anyhow,  or  you  wouldn't  have  acted  quite 
the  way  you  did.  n  the  sheriff  had  sent  me  it  would  have  been 
different  As  it  is,  if  you  unlock  those  cuffs  I'll  give  you  my  word 
I'll  do  nothing  more  unless  I'm  ordered  to.  Like  as  not  they've 
forgotten  all  about  you  by  this  time;  and  there's  nothing  on  record, 
anyhow." 

"Df  you  mean  it?    Will  yju.  act  square?" 

"  Certainly  I'll  act  square.  I  don't  suppose  you  doubt  that.  I 
didn't  ask  any  favors  before,  and  I  did  what  I  could  to  hold  you." 

"  Enough  said,"  cried  Yates.     "  I'll  risk  it." 

Stoliker  stretched  his  arms  wearily  above  his  head  when  he  was 
released. 

"  I  wonder,"  he  said,  auw  that  Kitty  was  gone,  "  if  there  is  any- 
thing to  eat  in  the  house  ?" 

"  Shake  !"  cried  Yat^,  holding  out  his  hand  to  him.  "  Another 
great  and  mutual  sentiment  unites  us,  Stoliker.    Let  us  go  and  see." 


CHAPTER  X. 


The  man  who  wanted  to  see  the  fight  did  not  see  it,  and  the  man 
who  did  not  want  to  see  it  saw  it.  Yates  arrived  on  the  field  of  con- 
flict when  all  was  over ;  Kcnmark  found  the  battle  raging  around  him 
before  he  realized  that  things  had  reached  a  crisis. 

The  result  of  the  struggle  was  similar  in  effect  to  an  American 
railway-accident  of  the  first  class.  One  officer  and  five  privates  were 
killed  on  the  Canadian  side,  one  man  was  missing,  and  many  were 
wounded.  The  number  of  the  Fenians  killed  will  probably  never  be 
known.  Several  were  buried  on  the  field  of  battle,  others  were  taken 
back  by  O'Neill's  brigade  Trhen  they  retreated. 

Although  the  engagement  resulted  as  Yates  had  predicte(i,  yet  he 
was  wrong  in  his  estimate  of  the  Cana4?"-  ".  Volunteers  are  invariably 
underrated  by  men  of  experience  in  niiliuirv  matters.  The  boys  fought 
well,  even  when  they  saw  their  ensign  fall  dead  before  them.  If  the 
affair  had  been  left  entirely  in  their  hands  the  result  might  havd  been 
different,  as  was  shown  afterwards,  when  the  volunteers,  unimpeded 


rmmmmm 


^- 


dtfUi 


•MMMMMMHMMWHHM 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


195 


il  of  kindness  on 

le  sat  down  upon 

it  in  spite  of  the 

id  lit  up  her  eyes 

ates. 

stable. 

a  niornent  longer 

V  York  State  :  so 

ort  to  Stoliker. 
IS  the  next  man 
jr.  I  am  under 
officer.  I  don't 
have  acted  quite 
'ould  have  been 
i^e  you  my  word 
!  as  not  they've 
thing  on  record, 


doubt  that.     I 
0  hold  you." 

d  when  he  was 

if  there  is  any- 

im.    "  Another 
}  go  and  see." 


it,  and  the  man 
he  field  of  con- 
ng  around  him 

0  an  American 
e  privates  were 
nd  many  were 
jably  never  be 
lers  were  taken 

'edicte<i,  yet  he 
are  invariably 
he  boys  fought 
them.  If  the 
ight  have  been 
rs,  unimpeded 


by  regulars,  quickly  put  dowu  a  much  more  formidable  rising  in  the 
Northwest.  But  iu  the  present  case  they  were  hampered  by  their  de- 
pendence on  the  British  troops,  whose  commander  moved  them  with 
all  the  ponderous  slownesb  of  real  war  and  approached  O'Neill  as  if 
he  had  been  approaching  Napoleou.  He  thus  managed  to  get  in  a  d»y 
after  the  fair  on  every  occasion,  being  too  late  for  the  fight  at  Ridgeway 
and  too  late  to  capture  any  considerable  number  of  the  flying  Feniuns 
at  Fort  Erie.  The  campaign  on  the  Canadian  side  was  magnificently 
planned  and  witolie-i"  jrried  out.  The  volunteers  and  regulars  were 
to  meet  at  a  point  ci-  .  to  where  the  fight  took  place,  but  the  Britiah 
commander  delayed  two  hours  in  starting,  which  fact  the  Canadian 
colonel  did  not  learn  until  too  lat«.  Those  blunders  culminated  in  a 
ghastly  mistake  on  the  field.  The  Canadian  colonel  ordered  his  men 
to  charge  across  an  open  field  and  attack  the  Fenian  force  in  the  woods, 
— a  brilliant  but  foolish  move.  To  the  command  the  volunteers  gal- 
lantly responded,  but  against  stupidity  the  gods  are  powerless.  In  the 
field  they  were  appalled  to  hear  the  order  given  to  form  square  and 
receive  cavalry.  Even  the  school-boys  knew  the  Fenians  could  have 
no  cavalry. 

Having  formed  their  ^uare,  the  Canadians  found  themselves  the 
helpless  targets  of  the  Fenians  in  the  woods.  If  O'Neill's  forces  had 
shot  with  reasonable  precision,  they  must  have  cut  the  volunteers  to 
pieces.  The  volunteers  were  victorious  if  they  had  only  known  it,  but, 
in  this  hopeless  square,  panic  seized  them,  and  it  was  every  man  for 
himself;  and  at  the  same  time  the  Fenians  were  also  retreating  as  fast 
as  they  could.  This  farce  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Ridgeway,  and 
would  have  l>}en  comical  had  it  not  been  that  death  hovered  over  it. 
The  comedy  without  the  tragedy  was  enacted  a  d**;-  -:r  I  wo  before,  at  a 
bloodless  skirmish  which  took  place  near  a  hamlet  (ailed  Waterloo, 
which  affray  is  dignified  in  Canadian  annals  as  the  se':x)nd  battle  of 
that  name. 

When  Yates  reached  the  tent  he  found  it  empty  and  torn  by  bullets. 
The  fortunes  of  war  had  smashed  the  jug,  and  the  fragments  were 
strewn  in  front  of  the  entrance,  probably  by  some  disappointed  man 
who  had  tried  to  sample  the  contents  and  had  found  notniug.  Yates 
was  tired  out  He  flung  himself  down  on  one  of  the  deserted  bunks, 
and  was  soon  sleeping  almost  as  soundly  as  the  man  behind  a  log  not 
six  feet  away  with  his  face  among  the  dead  leaves. 

When  the  Canadian  forces  retreated,  R*3umark,  who  had  watched 
the  contest  with  all  the  helpless  anxiety  of  a  non-combatant,  sharing 
the  danger  but  having  no  influence  upon  the  result,  followed  them, 
making  a  wide  d6tour  so  as  to  avoid  the  chance  shots  which  were  still 
flying.  He  expected  to  come  up  with  the  volunteen^  on  the  road,  but 
was  not  successful.  Through  various  miscalctllationfj,  he  did  not  suc- 
ceed in  finding  them  until  towards  evening.  Kt  first  they  told  him 
that  young  Howard  was  with  the  company  and  unhurt,  but  further  iu- 
quiry  soon  developed  the  fact  that  he  had  not  been  seen  since  tho  fight. 
He  was  not  among  those  who  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  it  was 
nightfall  before  Renmark  realized  that  opposite  his  name  on  the  roll 
would  be  placed  the  ominous  word  "  missing."     Renmark  remembered 


i25 


196 


'/JV   THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


that  the  boy  had  said  he  wuuld  visit  his  home  if  he  got  leave ;  but  no 
leave  had  been  asked  for.  At  last  Renmark  was  convinoed  that  young 
Howard  was  either  badly  wounded  or  dead.  The  possibility  of  his 
desertion  the  professor  did  not  consider  for  a  luomant,  although  he  ad- 
mitted to  himself  that  it  was  hard  to  tell  what  panio  of  fear  might 
come  over  a  boy  who  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  found  bullets  flying 
about  his  ears. 

With  a  heavy  heart,  Renmark  turned  back  and  mad-  his  way  to 
the  fat  1  field.  He  found  nothing  on  the  Canpdian  side.  Going  over 
to  the  woods,  he  came  across  several  bodies  lying  where  they  fell ;  but 
they  were  all  strangers.  Even  in  the  darkness  he  would  have  had  no 
difficulty  in  recognizing  the  volunteer  uniform  which  he  knew  so  well. 
He  walked  down  to  the  Howard  homestead,  hoping  yet  fearing  to  hear 
the  boy's  voice, — the  voice  of  a  deserter.  Everything  was  silent  about 
the  house,  although  a  light  shone  through  an  upper  window  and  also 
through  one  l)elow.  He  paused  at  the  gate,  not  knowing  what  to  do. 
It  was  evident  the  boy  was  not  here,  yet  how  to  find  the  father  or 
brother  without  alarming  Margaret  or  her  mother  puzzled  him.  As 
he  stood  there,  the  door  openra,  and  he  recognized  Mrs.  Bartlett  and 
Margaret  standing  in  the  light.  He  moved  away  from  the  gate,  and 
heard  the  older  woman  say, — 

"  Oh,  she  will  be  all  right  in  the  morning,  now  that  she  has  fallen 
into  a  nice  sleep.  I  wouldn't  disturb  her  to-night,  if  I  were  you.  It 
is  nothing  but  nervousness  and  fright  at  that  horrible  firing  It's  all 
over  now,  thank  God.     Good-night,  Margaret." 

The  go- '.  woman  came  through  the  gate,  and  then  ran  with  all  the 
speed  of  sixteen  towards  her  own  home.  Margaret  stood  in  the  door- 
way, listening  to  the  retreating  footsteps.  She  was  pale  and  anxious, 
but  Renmark  thought  he  had  never  seen  any  one  so  lovely,  and  be  was 
startled  to  find  that  he  had  a  most  uu-professor-like  longing  to  take 
her  in  his  arms  and  comfort  her,  a  feeling  which  had  never  assailed 
him  in  the  dim  educational  corridors  of  the  stately  university  building. 
Instead  of  bringing  her  consolation,  he  feared  it  would  be  his  fate  to 
t>  'd  to  her  anxiety ;  and  it  was  not  until  he  saw  that  she  was  ab  jut  to 
clcae  the  doo;'  that  he  found  courage  to  speak. 

"  Margaiet,"  he  said. 

The  girl  had  never  heard  her  name  pronounced  in  that  tone  before, 
and  the  cadence  of  it  went  direct  to  her  heart,  frightening  her  with  an 
unknown  joy.  She  seemed  unrble  to  move  or  respond,  and  stood  there 
with  wide  eyes  and  suspended  Ireath,  gazing  into  the  darkness.  Ren- 
mark stepped  into  the  light,  anO  she  sav/  his  face  was  haggard  with 
fatigue  and  anxiety. 

"  Margaret,"  he  said  again,  "  I  waui  to  speak  with  you  a  moment. 
Where  is  your  brother  ?" 

"  He  has  gone  with  Mr.  Bartlett  to  see  if  he  can  find  the  horses. 
There  is  something  wrong,"  she  continued,  stepping  down  beside  him. 
"  I  can  see  it  in  your  face.     What  is  it  ?" 

"  Is  your  fiither  in  the  house  ?" 

"  Yes,  but  he  is  worried  about  mother.  Tell  me  what  it  is.  It  is 
better  to  tell  me." 


Ijppjliiii! 


nj  iimiuM 


li^m 


mmmm 


!  got  leave ;  but  no 
avinoed  that  young 
!  possibility  of  his 
it,  although  he  ad- 
anio  of  fear  might 
)und  bulleta  flying 

i  madj  his  way  to 
side.    Going  over 
lere  they  fell ;  but 
vould  have  had  no 
1  he  knew  so  well, 
yet  fearing  to  hear 
ig  was  silent  about 
window  and  also 
owing  what  to  do. 
ind  the  father  or 
puzzled  him.    As 
Mrs.  Bartlett  and 
rom  the  gate,  and 

hat  she  has  fallen 

I  were  you.    It 

e  firing     It's  all 

I  ran  with  all  the 
itood  in  the  door- 
ale  and  anxious, 
)ve!y,  and  he  was 
e  longing  to  take 
id  never  assailed 
iversity  building. 
Id  be  his  fate  to 
she  was  abjut  to 


that  tone  before, 
ling  her  with  an 
,  and  stood  there 
darkness.  Ren- 
»8  haggard  with 

I  you  a  moment. 

find  the  horses, 
•wn  beside  him. 


hat  it  is.     It  is 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


197 


:     Renmark  hesitated. 

^  "  Don't  keep  me  in  suspense  like  this,"  cried  the  girl,  in  a  low  but 
intense  voice.  "  You  have  said  too  much  or  too  little.  Has  anything 
happened  to  Henry  ?" 

"  No,  It  is  about  Arthur  I  wanted  to  speak.  You  will  not  be 
alarmed  ?" 

"  I  am  alarmed.  Tell  me  quickly."  And  the  girl  in  her  excite- 
ment laid  her  hands  imploringly  on  his. 

"  Arthur  joined  the  volunteers  in  Toronto  some  time  ago.  Did  you 
know  that?"  ^ 

'■'  He  never  told  me.  I  understand — I  think  so,  but  I  hope  not. 
He  was  in  the  battle  to-day.     Is  he — has  he  been — hurt  ?" 

"  I  don't  know.  I  am  afraid  so,"  said  Renmark,  hurriedly,  now 
that  the  truth  had  to  come  out,  and  he  realized  by  the  nervous  tightening 
of  the  girl's  unconscious  grasp  how  clumsily  he  w"\  telling  it.  "He 
was  with  the  volunteers  this  morning.  He  is  not  with  them  now. 
They  don't  know  where  he  is.  No  one  saw  him  hurt,  but  it  is  feared 
he  was,  and  that  he  has  been  left  behind.  I  have  been  all  over  the 
ground." 

"Yes,  yes." 

"  But  I  could  not  find  him.     I  came  here  hoping  to  find  him." 

"Take  me  to  where  the  volunteers  were,"  she  sobbed.  "I  know 
what  has  happened.     Come  quickly." 

"  Will  you  not  put  sometning  on  your  head  ?" 

"  No,  no.  Come  at  once."  Then,  pausing,  she  said,  "  Shall  we 
need  a  lantern  ?" 

"  No ;  it  is  light  enough  when  we  get  out  from  the  shadow  of  the 
house." 

Margaret  ran  along  the  road  so  swiftly  that  Renmark  had  some 
troublfc  in  keeping  pace  with  her.  She  turned  at  the  side-road  and  sped 
up  the  gentle  ascent  to  the  spot  where  the  volunteers  had  crossed  it. 

"  Here  is  the  place,"  said  Renmark. 

"  He  could  not  have  been  hit  in  the  field,"  she  cried,  breathlessly^ 
**  for  then  he  might  have  reached  the  house  at  the  corner  without  climb- 
ing a  fence.  If  he  was  badly  hurt  he  would  have  been  here.  Did  you 
search  this  field  ?" 

"  Every  bit  of  it.    He  is  not  here." 

"  Then  it  must  have  happened  after  be  crossed  the  road  and  ths 
second  fence.    Did  you  see  the  battle  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  Did  the  Fenians  cross  the  field  after  the  volunteers  ?'  * 

"  No ;  they  did  not  leave  the  woods." 

"  Then  if  he  was  struck  it  could  not  have-been  far  from  the  other 
side  of  the  second  fence.  He  would  be  the  last  to  retreat ;  and  that  is 
why  the  others  did  not  see  him,"  said  the  rlfl,  with  confident  pride  in 
her  brother's  courage. 

They  crossed  the  first  fence,  the  road,  and  the  second  fence,  the  girl 
walking  ahead  for  a  few  paces.  She  stopped  and  leaned  for  a  moment 
against  a  tree.  "  It  must  have  been  about  here,"  she  said,  in  a  voice 
hardly  audible.    "  Have  you  searched  on  this  side  ?" 


198 


«'  m  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


m 


M 
#1 


•'  Yes,  for  half  a  mile  farther  into  the  fields  and  woods." 

"No,  no,  not  there,  but  down  alon?  the  fence.  He  knew  every 
inch  of  this  ground.  If  he  were  wounded  here,  he  would  at  once  try 
to  reach  our  house.    Search  down  along  the  fence.    I — I  cannot  go." 

Renmark  walked  along  the  fence,  peering  into  the  dark  corners 
made  by  the  zigzag  of  the  rails,  and  he  knew,  without  looking  back, 
that  Margaret  with  feminine  inconsistency  was  following  '-jira.  Sud- 
denly she  darted  past  him  and  flung  herself  down  in  the  long  grass, 
wailing  out  a  cry  that  cut  Renmark  like  a  knife. 

The  boy  lay  with  his  face  in  the  grass  and  his  outstretched  hand 
grasping  the  lower  rail  of  the  fence.  He  had  dragged  himself  this 
far  and  reached  an  insurmountable  obstacle. 

Renmark  drew  the  weeping  girl  gently  away,  and  rapidly  ran  his 
hand  over  the  prostrate  lad.  He  quickly  opened  his  tunic,  and  a  thrill 
of  joy  passed  over  him  as  he  felt  the  faint  beating  of  the  heart. 

"  He  is  alive,"  he  cried.  "  He  will  get  well,  Mai^aret."  This 
Statement,  however,  was  a  somewhat  premature  one  to  make  on  so  hasty 
an  examination. 

He  rose,  expecting  a  look  of  gratitude  from  the  girl  he  loved.  He 
was  amazed  to  see  her  eyes  almost  luminous  in  the  darkness,  blazing 
with  wrath. 

"  When  did  you  know  he  was  with  the  voluntw'rs  ?" 

"  This  morning, — early,"  said  the  professor,  taken  aback; 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me?" 

"  He  asked  me  not  to." 

"  He  is  a  mere  boy.  You  are  a  man,  and  ought  to  have  a  man's 
sense.  You  had  no  right  to  mind  wh^t  a  hoy  said.  It  was  my  right 
to  know  and  your  duty  to  tell  me.  Through  your  negligence  and 
stupidity  my  brother  has  lain  here  all  day, — perhaps  dying,"  she  added, 
with  a  break  in  her  angry  voice. 

"  If  you  had  known — I  didn't  know  anything  was  wrong  until  I 
saw  the  volunteers.     I  have  not  lost  a  moment  since." 

"  I  should  have  known  he  was  missing,  without  going  to  the  vol- 
unteers." 

Renmark  was  so  amazed  at  the  unjust  accusation  from  a  girl 
whom  he  had  made  the  mistake  of  believing  to  be  without  a  temper 
of  her  own  that  he  knew  not  what  to  say.  He  was,  however,  to  have 
one  more  example  of  inconsistency. 

"  Why  do  you  stand  there  doing  nothing,  now  that  I  have  found 
him  ?"  she  demanded. 

It  was  on  his  tongue  to  say,  "  I  stand  here  because  you  stand  there 
unjustly  quarrelling  with  me,"  but  he  did  not  say  it.  Renmark  was 
not  a  ready  man,  yet  he  did,  for  once,  the  right  thing. 

**  Mai^ret,"  he  said,  sternly,  "  throw  down  that  fence." 

This  curt  command,  delivered  in  his  most  schoolroastery  manner, 
was  instantly  ol)eye<l.  Such  a  task  may  seem  a  formidable  one  to  set 
to  a  young  woman,  but  it  is  a  feat  easily  accomplished  in  some  paits  of 
America.  A  rail  fence  lends  itself  readily  to  demolition.  Margaret 
tossed  a  rail  to  the  right,  one  to  the  left,  and  one  to  the  right  again, 
until  an  open  gap  took  the  place  of  that  part  of  the  fence.     The  pro- 


^^ 


■'"■"""y—wwwwsaBKM 


^■■■■■i 


"  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS: 


199 


n^oods." 

He  knew  every 
^ould  at  once  try 
[ — I  cannot  go." 
the  darlc  corners 
ut  looking  back, 
«^>ng  nim.    Siid- 

the  long  grass, 

isistretched  hand 
?ed  himself  this 

rapidly  ran  his 
inic,  and  a  thrill 
he  heart, 
argaret."     This 
nake  on  so  hasty 

I  he  loved.    He 
irkness,  blazing 

iback; 


0  have  a  man's 
t  was  my  right 
oegligenee  and 
Dg,"  she  added, 

wrong  until  I 

Dg  to  the  vol- 

from  a  girl 
lout  a  temper 
vever,  to  have 

1  have  found 

u  stand  there 
Ren  mark  was 


stery  manner, 
>le  one  to  set 
lome  pai-ts  of 
1.  Margaret 
right  again, 
'•     The  pro- 


fessor examined  the  young  soldier  in  the  mean  time,  and  found  his  leg 
had  been  broken  by  a  musket-ball.  He  raised  him  up  tenderly  in  hia 
arms,  and  was  pleasetl  to  hear  a  groan  escape  his  lips.  He  walked 
through  the  open  gap  and  along  the  road  towanls  the  house,  bearing  tlie 
unconscious  form  of  his  nupil.  Margaret  silently  kept  close  to  his  side, 
her  fingers  every  now  and  then  unconsciously  caressing  the  damp  curly 
locks  of  her  brother. 

"We  shall  have  to  have  a  doctor?"  Her  as»drtton  was  half  an 
inquiry. 

"Certainly." 

**  We  must  not  disturb  any  one  in  the  house.  It  is  better  that  I 
should  tell  vou  what  to  do  now,  so  that  we  need  not  talk  when  we 
reach  there." 

"  We  cannot  help  disturbing  some  one." 

"  I  do  not  think  it  will  be  necessary.  If  you  will  stay  with  Arthur 
I  will  go  for  the  doctor,  and  no  one  need  know." 

"  I  will  go  for  the  doctor." 

"  You  do  not  know  the  way.  It  is  five  or  six  miles.  I  will  ride 
Gypsy,  and  will  soon  be  back." 

"  But  there  are  prowlers  and  stragglers  all  along  the  roads.  It  is 
not  safe  for  you  to  go  alone." 

"  It  is  perfectly  safe.  No  horse  that  the  stragglers  have  stolen  can 
overtake  Gypsy.  Now,  don't  say  anything  more.  It  is  best  that  I 
should  go.  I  will  run  on  ahead  and  enter  the  house  quietly.  I  will 
take  the  lamp  to  the  room  at  the  side,  where  the  window  opens  to  the 
floor.  Carry  him  around  there.  I  will  be  waiting  for  you  at  the  gate, 
and  will  show  you  the  way." 

With  that  the  girl  was  off,  and  Renmark  carried  his  burden  alone. 
She  was  waiting  iibr  him  at  the  gate,  and  silently  led  the  way  around 
the  house  to  when)  the  door-window  opened  upon  the  bit  of  lawn  under 
an  apple-tree.  The  light  streamed  out  upon  the  grass.  He  placed  the 
boy  gently  upon  the  dainty  bed.  It  needed  no  second  glance  to  tell 
Renmark  whose  room  he  was  in.  It  was  decorated  with  those  pretty 
little  knick-knacks  that  are  dear  to  the  heart  of  a  girl  in  a  snuggery 
which  she  can  call  her  own. 

"It  is  not  likely  that  you  will  be  disturbed  here,"  she  whispered, 
"  until  I  come  back.  I  will  tap  at  the  window  when  I  come  with  the 
doctor." 

"Don't  you  think  it  would  be  better  and  safer  for  me  to  go?  I 
don't  like  the  thought  of  you  going  alone." 

"  No,  no.  Please  do  just  what  I  tt-ll  you  to.  You  do  not  know 
the  way.  I  shall  be  very  much  quicker.  If  Arthur  should — should 
— wake,  he  will  know  you,  and  will  not  be  alarmed,  as  he  might  be  if 
you  were  a  stranger." 

Margaret  was  gone  before  he  could  say  anything  more,  and  Ren- 
mark sat  down,  devoutly  hoping  that  no  one  would  rap  at  the  door  of  - 
the  room  while  he  was  there. 


200 


*>IN  THE  M.'DST  OF   ALARMS." 


CHAPTER   XT. 


m 


Maroaret  spokn  caressingly  to  her  liorse  when  fhe  opened  the 
stable  door,  and  Gyjwy  replied  with  that  affectionate  low  guttural 
whinny  which  the  Bootch  graphically  lerm  "  nickering."  She  patted 
the  little  animal ;  and  if  Gyp;y  was  surprised  at  being  s«»--ldled  and 
bridled  at  that  hour  of  the  night,  no  protest  was  made,  the  horse 
merely  rubbing  its  nose  loviMgly  up  and  down  Margaret's  sleeve  ap  she 
buckl'?d  tile  different  straps,  'th^^  was  evidently  a  good  unil'T-'dnd- 
iiig  between  thoee  t 

v;    "No  rv^i,"  jhf  v^.-^T. ::..<;,     T    lave  notaing  for  you  to-night, — 

k  wi>rk.    Now,  you  mustn't  make  a 


nothing  bui  i»ard  w«.  '   .uv*  '^ 
noise  til!  we  get  pa     tiiv  ho!!.- 

On  her  wrist  she  8iu^-^i«d  tlv  ">p  of  a  riding-whip  which  she 
always  carried  but  never  used.  '  iyp  *iad  never  felt  the  indignity  of 
the  lash.  The  little  horse  was  always  willing  to  do  what  was  required 
merely  ^or  a  word. 

Margaret  opened  the  big  gate  before  she  saddled  her  horse,  and  there 
was  therefore  no  delay  in  getting  out  upon  the  main  road,  ulthough  the 
passing  of  the  house  was  an  anxious  moment.  She  feared  that  if  her 
father  heard  the  steps  or  the  neighing  of  the  horse  he  might  come  out 
to  ;uV(»tigate.  Half-way  between  her  own  home  and  Bartlett'9  house 
she  sprang  lightly  into  the  saddle. 

"  Now  then,  Gyp," 

The  horse  required  no  second  word.  Away  they  sped  down  the 
road  towards  the  east,  the  mild  June  air  coming  sweet  and  cool  and 
^resh  from  the  distant  lake,  laden  with  the  odors  of  the  woods  and  the 
fields.  The  stillness  was  intense,  broken  only  by  the  plaintive  cry  of 
the  whippoorwill,  America's  one-phrased  nightingale,  or  the  still  more 
weird  and  eerie  note  of  the  distant  loon. 

The  houses  along  the  road  seemed  desert."^. ;  00  lights  were  shown 
anywhere.  The  vildest  rumors  were  abroad  concerning  the  slaughter 
of  the  day,  and  the  population,  scattered  as  it  v/as,  appeared  to  Iiave 
retired  into  its  shell.  A  spell  of  silence  and  darkness  was  over  the 
land,  and  the  rapid  hoof-l>eat3  of  the  horse  soucded  with  startling  dis- 
tinctness on  the  harder  portions  of  the  road,  emphasized  by  intervdils 
of  complete  stillness  when  the  fetlocks  sank  in  the  sand  and  progress 
was  more  difBcL.fc  for  the  plucky  little  animal.  The  only  thrill  of 
feai  that  Margaret  felt  on  her  night-journey  was  when  she  entered  the 
dark  arch  of  an  avenue  of  old  forest-trees  that  bordered  the  road,  like 
a  great  gloomy  cathedral  aisle  in  the  shadow  of  which  anything  might 
be  hidden.  Once  the  horse  with  a  jump  of  fear  staited  sideways  and 
plunged  ahead  :  Margaret  caught  her  breath  as  she  saw,  or  fancied  she 
saw,  several  men  stretched  on  the  I'oad-side,  asleep  or  dead.  Once  iu 
the  open  again  she  breathed  more  freely,  and  if  it  nad  not  been  for  the 
jump  of  the  horse  she  would  have  accused  her  imagination  of  playing 
her  a  trick.  Just  as  she  had  completely  refssured  herself,  a  shadow 
moved  from  the  fence  to  the  middle  of  the  road,  and  a  sharp  voice 
cried,— 


infi. 


i. 


mmmA 


■iiimmni 


wwirm 


Phe  opened  the 
t  low  guttural 
f."  She  paUetl 
ng  an.-ldled  and 
lade,  the  horse 
t's  sleeve  a?  she 
»od  i:n<.Vr"'dnd- 

i^ou  to-night, — 
mistn't  make  a 


hip  which  8he 
le  indignity  of 
it  was  required 


loree,  and  there 
(1,  although  the 
red  that  if  her 
light  come  out 
^rtlett'i^  house 


ped  down  the 
and  cool  and 
voods  and  the 
aintive  cry  of 
the  still  more 

3  were  shown 
the  slaughter 
fared  to  have 
was  over  the 
startling  dia- 
1  by  intervals 
and  progress 
nly  thrill  of 
le  entered  the 
he  road,  like 
rthing  might 
lideways  and 
r  fancied  slie 
d.     Once  in 
been  for  tha 
n  of  playing 
If,  a  shadow 
sharp  voice 


"///   THE  MIDSV  CF  ALARMS.' 


aoi 


«Haltr 

The  little  horse,  ae  if  it  knev  the  rnenning  of  the  word,  planted 
■  two  front  hfofs  ogethr-  a:  J  slid  along  the  ground  for  a  moment, 
c.  •  'inf»  so  quickly  to  '  stand-still  that  it  was  with  some  difficulty  Mar- 
gt  'et  Kept  her  seat.  She  saw  in  front  of  'r  a  man  holding  a  gun, 
'".  dently  ready  u>  fire  if  she  attempted  t'.  uisuhiiy  his  command. 

"  Wi..'  are  you,  and  where  are  yoi'  goi'ig?"  he  demanded. 

"Oh,  please  let  me  paiss,"  pl^aued  Margaret,  with  a  tremor  of  fear 
in  her  voice.  *'  T  an^  ,ijing  for  a  u^^.;tC/* — ^lor  my  brother :  Le  is  badly 
wounded,  and  will  perhaps  die  if  I  am  delayed. 

The  man  laughed. 

"Oho!"  he  cried,  coming  oUwer;  "a  woman,  is  it?  and  a  young 
one,  too,  or  I'm  a  heathen.  Now,  mias  or  missus,  yon  get  down.  I'll 
have  to  investigate  this.  The  brother  business  won't  work  with  an  old 
soldier.  It's  your  lover  you're  riding  for  at  this  time  of  the  night,  or 
I'm  no  judge  of  the  sex.  Just  slip  down,  my  ladv,  and  see  if  you  don't 
like  me  better  than  him  ;  and  remember  that  all  cats  are  black  in  the 
dark.    Get  down,  I  tell  you." 

"If  you  are  a  soldier  you  will  let  me  go.     My  brother  is  bad' 
wounded.     I  must  get  to  the  doctor." 


"  There's  no  *  must'  with  a  bayonet  in  front  of  you.     If  he  •" 

Come  d  ■ 


been  wounded  there's  plenty  of  better  men  .lilled  to-day. 
my  dear." 

Margaret  gathered  up  the  bridle-rein,  but  even  in  the  darkue^e  «iie 
man  saw  her  intention. 

I     "  You  can't  escape,  my  pretty.     If  you  try  it,  you'll  not  be  hurt, 
but  I'll  kill  your  horse.     If  you  move,  I'll  put  a  bullet  through  him," 

"  Kill  my  horse !"  breathed  Margaret,  in  horror,  a  fear  coming  over 
her  that  she  had  not  felt  at  the  thought  of  danger  to  herself. 

"  Yes,  mi.ssy,"  said  the  man,  approaching  nearer  and  laying  hia 
hand  on  Gypsy's  bridle.  "  But  there  will  be  no  need  of  that.  Besides, 
It  would  make  too  much  noise,  and  might  bring  us  coinpany,  which 
would  be  inconvenient.  So  come  down  quietly,  like  the  nice  little  girl, 
you  arts." 

"  If  you  will  let  me  go  and  tell  the  doctor,  I  will  come  baok  hei-e 
and  be  your  prisoner." 

The  man  laughed  again,  in  low,  tantalizing  tones.  This  was  a 
good  joke. 

"  Oh,  no,  sweetheart.  I  wasn't  born  so  recently  as  all  that.  A 
girl  in  the  hand  is  worth  a  dozen  a  mile  up  the  road.  Now  come  off' 
9)at  horse,  or  I'll  take  you  oflP.  This  is  war-time,  and  I'm  not  going 
to  waste  any  more  pretty  talk  on  you." 

The  man,  who,  she  no^  saw,  was  hatlon,  leered  up  at  her,  and 
something  in  his  sinister  eyes  made  the  girl  quail.  She  had  been  so 
quiet  that  he  apparently  was  not  prepared  for  any  sudden  movement. 
Her  right  hand  banging  down  at  her  side  had  grasped  the  short  riding- 
whip,  and  with  a  swiftness  that  gave  him  no  chance  to  ward  off*  the 
blow  she  struck  him  one  stinging  blindiog  cut  acr<3ss  the  eyes,  and  then 
brought  down  the  lash  on  the  flank  of  her  horse,  drawing  tiie  animal 
round  with  her  left  over  her  enemy.    With  a  wild  snort  of  astonwb- 


MIMW 


jwr^  ■ 


(    M 


202 


"/iV  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS' 


meiit  the  hnrsc  sprang  fbrwanl,  bringing  man  and  gnn  down  to  the 
ground  with  a  (flatter  that  woke  tho  cch<H>s ;  then,  with  an  indignant 
to&s  of  the  head,  Gyp  npcd  along  tho  roed  like  the  wind.  It  was  the 
first  time  Gvpy  had  ever  felt  the  cut  of  a  whip,  and  the  blow  was  not 
forgiven.  Margaret,  fearing  further  olwtruction  on  the  road,  turne<l 
her  Ijorse's  heair  towards  the  rail  fence,  and  Qyp«y  went  over  it  like  n 
bird.  In  the  field,  where  fast  going  in  the  dark  had  danger  ,  Margaret 
tried  to  slaoken  the  pace,  but  the  little  horpo  wouhl  not  have  it  so.  It 
shook  its  hoiid  angri'  whenever  it  thought  of  the  indignity  of  thai: 
blow,  while  Margr  i,  leaned  over  and  tried  to  explain  and  beg  pardon 
for  her  offence.  The  sc:c;;r.;l  fontic  waH  croa-wd  with  a  oK^n-ciit  leap, 
and  only  onc«'  .i  the  next  field  did  the  horse  stumble,  but  quickly  re- 
covered a»' '  went  on  at  the  same  break-neck  gait.  Tho  next  fence 
gallantb  /aiilted  over  brought  them  to  the  side-road  half  a  mile  up 
rhich  otood  the  doctor's  house.  Margaret  saw  the  futility  of  attempt- 
ir  ^  d  reconciliation  until  the  goal  was  won.  There,  with  difficulty,  the 
.lorse  was  stopped,  and  Margaret  struck  the  |)anes  of  the  upj)er  win- 
dow, through  which  a  light  shone,  with  her  riding-whip.  The  window 
was  raised,  and  the  situation  8{)eedily  explained  to  th<i  physician. 

"  I  will  bo  with  you  in  a  inoruent,"  ne  said. 

Then  Margaret  slid  from  the  stuldle  and  put  aer  arm.s  around  the 
\eok  of  the  trembling  horse.     Gypsy  would  nave  nothing  to  do  with 
I  ^r,  and  sniffed  the  nir  with  offended  dignity. 

"  It  wa^  a  shame,  Gyp,"  she  cried,  almost  tearfully,  stroking  the 
gk  «y  neck  of  her  resentful  friend  ;  "  it  was,  it  was,  and  I  know  it ;  but 
wha  was  I  to  do,  Gyp?  You  were  the  only  protector  I  had,  and  you 
did  h  wl  him  over  beautifully:  no  other  hoi"8e  could  have  done  it  so 
well.  A^'s  wicked,  but  I  do  hope  you  hurt  him,  just  lx»cau«e  I  had  to 
strike  you 

Gypsy  was.  still  wrathful,  and  indicated  by  a  toes  of  the  head  that 
the  whe<!<lling  oi  "  woman  did  not  make  up  for  a  blow.  It  was  the 
insult  raoi-e  than  the  pain  ;  and  from  her, — there  was  the  sting  of  it. 

"  I  know  ;  I  know  just  how  you  feel,  Gypsy  dear,  and  I  don't 
blame  you  for  being  angry.  I  might  have  spoken  to  you,  of  course, 
but  there  was  no  time  to  think,  and  it  was  really  him  I  was  ijtriking. 
That's  why  it  came  down  so  hard.  If  I  had  said  a  word  he  would 
have  got  out  of  the  way,  c^Dward  that  he  was,  and  then  would  liave 
shot  you, — y(m,  Gypsy.     Think  of  it!" 

If  a  man  can  be  moulded  in  any  shapte  that  pleases  a  clever  woman, 
how  can  a  horse  expect  to  be  exempt  from  her  iufliience,  even  if  he  is 
a  8U{X}rior  animiil  to  man  ?  Gypsy  showe<l  signs  of  melting,  whinny- 
ing softly  and  forgivingly. 

"  .lind  it  will  never  happen  again,  Gypsy, — never,  never.  As  soon 
as  we  are  safe  home  again  I  wilt  bum  that  whip.  You  little  pet,  I 
knew  yom  wouldn't " 

Gyptiy's  head  re8te<l  on  Margaret's  shoulder,  and  we  must  draw  a 

veil  over  the  reconciliation.     Some  things  are  too  sacred  for  a  mere 

man  to  me<idle  with.     The  frieiids  were  friends  once  more,  and  on 

the  altar  of  friendship  the  unoffending  whip  was  doubtless  ofFere<l  as 

•rjjft  burning  sacrifice. 


•^Pi«l 


.A^. 


gun  down  to  the 
itii  an  imlignant 
i«Kl.     It  was  the 
the  blow  was  not 
the  nmd,  tiirne<l 
;nt  over  it  likn  a 
uiger  ,  Margaret 
t  have  it  so.     It 
adignity  of  that 
and  beg  pardon 
I  ch^n-ciit  leap, 
but  quickly  re- 
Tho  next  fence 
half  a  mile  up 
ilify  of  attempt- 
th  difficulty,  the 
the  iip|)er  win- 
>.     IMie  window 
)hy8ician. 

iniB  around  the 
lung  to  do  with 

y,  stroking  the 
I  know  it;  but 
I  had,  and  you 
have  done  it  so 
>cau.»e  I  had  to 

'  the  head  that 
.     It  was  the 
sting  of  it. 
and  I  don't 

>'ou,  of  course, 
was  striking. 

vord  he  would 

n  would  have 


clever 
even  if  he  ii 


woman. 


18 


ting,  whinny- 

'er.    As  soon 
little  pet,  I 

must  draw  a 
d  for  a  mere 
iiore,  and  on 
ess  offere<I  as 


•'  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


203 


When  the  doctor  came  out,  Margaret  explained  the  danger  of  the 
road,  and  pro|)08etI  that  they  should  return  by  the  longer  nd  northern 
way, — the  C'Onoession,  as  it  was  called. 

They  met  no  one  on  the  silent  road,  and  soon  they  saw  the  light  in 
the  window. 

The  doctor  and  the  girl  left  their  horses  tied  some  distance  from  the 
house,  and  walked  together  to  the  window  with  the  stealthy  stejw  of  a 
|)air  of  house-breakers.  Margaret  listenei]  breathlessly  at  the  closed 
window,  and  thought  she  heard  the  low  murmur  of  conversatiim.  She 
tapped  lightly  on  the  pane,  and  the  professor  threw  back  the  door- 
window. 

"  We  were  getting  very  anxious  about  you,"  he  whisp«?red. 

•'Hello,  Peggy,"  said  the  l)oy,  with  a  wan  smile,  rawing  his  head 
slightly  from  the  pillow  and  dn)pping  it  back  again. 

Margaret  stoopt-'d  over  and  kissed  him. 

"  My  poor  boy  1  what  a  fright  you  have  given  me  !" 

"  Ah,  Margery,  think  what  u  fright  I  got  myself.  I  thought  I  was 
going  to  di^  within  sight  of  the  house." 

The  doijtor  gently  pushed  Margaret  from  the  room.  Renmark 
waited  until  the  examination  was  over,  and  then  went  out  to  find  her. 

She  sprang  forward  to  meet  him. 

"  It  is  all  right,"  lie  said.  "  There  is  nothing  to  fear.  He  has  been 
exhausted  by  loss  of  blood,  but  a  few  days'  quiet  will  set  that  right. 
Then  all  you  will  have  to  contend  against  will  be  his  impatience  at 
being  kept  to  his  room,  which  may  be  necessary  for  some  weeks." 

"  Oh,  I  am  80  glad  I  and — and  I  aw  so  much  obliged  to  yoU;  Mr. 
Renmark !" 

"  I  have  done  nothing, — except  make  blunders,"  replied  the  pro- 
fessor, with  a  bitterness  that  surprised  and  hurt  her. 

"  How  can  you  say  that  ?  You  have  done  everything.  We  owe 
his  life  to  you." 

Renmark  said  nothing  for  a  moment.  Her  unjust  at'eusation  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  night  had  deeply  pained  his  over-sensitive  nature, 
and  he  hoped  for  some  hint  of  disclaimer  from  her.  Belonging  to  the 
stupider  sex,  he  did  not  realize  that  the  words  were  spoken  in  a  state 
of  intense  excitemient  and  fear, — that  another  woman  would  probably 
have  expressed  her  state  of  mind  by  fainting  instead  of  talking,  and 
that  the  whole  episode  had  left  absolutely  no  trace  on  the  recollection 
of  Margaret.     At  last  Renmark  spoke  : 

"  I  must  be  getting  back  to  the  tent,  if  it  still  exists.  I  think  I 
had  an  appointment  there  with  Yates  some  twelve  hours  ago,  but  to 
this  moment  I  had  forgotten  it.     Good-night." 

Margaret  stood  for  a  few  moments  atone,  and  wondered  what  she 
had  done  to  offend  him.  He  stumbled  along  the  dark  road,  not  heeding 
much  the  direction  he  took,  but  automatically  going  the  nearest  way  to 
the  tent.  Fatigue  and  the  want  of  sleep  were  heavy  upon  him,  and  his' 
feet  were  as  lead.  Although  dazed^  he  was  conscious  of  a  dull  ache 
where  his  heart  ought  to  be,  and  he  vaguely  hoped  he  had  not  made  a 
fool  of  himself.  He  entered  the  tent,  and  was  startled  by  the  voice  of 
Yates: 


204 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


,    "  Hello !  liello !     In  that  you,  Stoliker  ?" 

"No;  it  ia  litiiimark.     Are  you  asleep?" 

"  I  gnem  I  have  beeu.  Huiige/  ia  the  one  sensation  of  the  moment. 
Have  you  providwl  anything  to  out  within  the  last  tweuty-fonr  honrs?" 

"  There's  a  Img  full  of  {ratatoes  here,  I  believe.  I  haven't  Lieeo 
near  the  tent  since  early  morning." 

"All  right,  only  don't  I'xiKict  a  reoommendatioii  from  me  as  cook. 
I'm  not  yet  hungry  enough  for  raw  potatoes.  What  time  has  it  got 
to  be?" 

"  I'm  sure  T  don't  know." 

"Seems  as  if  I  had  lH!en  asleep  for  weeks.  I'm  the  latest  edition 
of  Kip  Van  Winkle,  and  expec^t  to  find  my  moustache  gray  in  the 
morning.  I  was  druaming  Hweetly  of  Stoliker  when  you  fell  over  the 
bunk." 

"  What  have  you  done  with  him?" 

"I'm  not  wide  enough  awake  to  rometnl)er.  I  think  I  killed  him, 
but  wouldn't  be  sure.  So  many  of  my  gcxHl  resolutions  go  wrong  that 
very  likely  he  is  alivu  at  this  moment.  Ask  me  in  the  morning.  What 
have  you  been  prowling  after  all  night?" 

There  was  no  answer.     Renmark  was  evidently  asleep. 

"  I'll  ask  you  in  the  morning,"  murmured  Yates,  drowsily, — ufler 
which  there  was  silence  in  the  camp. 


■•^^yi- 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Yateb  had  stubbornly  refused  to  give  up  his  seareli  for  r««t  and 
quiet,  in  spite  of  the  di8con)fort  of  living  in  a  leaky  and  battered  tent. 
He  expressed  regret  that  he  had  not  originally  camped  in  the  middle 
of  Broadway,  as  being  a  quieter  and  less  '^xciting  spot  than  the  place 
he  had  chosen,  but,  having  made  the  choice,  he  was  going  to  see  the 
last  dog  hung,  he  said.  Renmark  had  become  less  and  less  of  a  com- 
rade. He  was  silent  and  almost  as  gloomy  as  Hiram  Bartlett  himself. 
When  Yates  tried  to  cheer  him  up  by  showing  him  how  much  worse 
another  man's  position  might  be,  Renmark  generally  ended  the  talk  by 
taking  to  the  woods. 

"  Just  reflect  on  my  position,"  Yates  would  siij .  "  Here  I  am 
dead  in  love  with  two  lovely  girls,  both  of  whom  are  merely  waiting 
for  the  word.  To  one  of  them  I  have  nearly  committed  myself,  which 
fact  to  a  man  of  my  temperament  inclines  me  somewhat  to  the  other. 
Here  I  am  anxious  to  confide  in  you,  and  yet  I  feel  that  I  risk  a  fight 
every  time  I  talk  about  the  complication.  You  have  no  sympathy  for 
me,  Renny,  when  I  need  sympathy,  and  I  am  bubbling  over  with 
sympathy  for  you  and  you  won't  have  it.  Now,  what  would  you  do 
if  you  were  in  ray  fix  ?  If  you  Tpould  take  five  minutes  and  show  mo 
clearly  which  of  the  two  girls  I  really  ought  to  marry,  it  would  help 
me  ever  so  much,  for  then  I  would  be  sure  to  settle  on  the  other  one. 
It  is  the  indecision  that  is  slowly  but  surely  sapping  my  vitality." 
'i  By  this  time  Renmark  would  have  pulled  nis  soft  felt  hat  over  hh 
eyes,  and,  muttering  words  that  would  have  echoed  strangely  in  the 


■'«a^teL.- 


»IN  THK  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


205 


n  of  the  moment. 

uty.fonr  hounj  ?» 

I  haven't  been 

rom  rae  as  cook. 
t  time  ha«  it  got 


tie  latest  aiition 
oiie  ^my  in  the 
'ou  iell  over  the 


nh  I  killed  him, 
s  go  wrong  that 
aorning.    What 

!ep, 
Irowflily,— after 


•oil  for  rest  and 
1  battered  tent. 
1  in  the  middle 
than  the  place 
ning  to  see  the 
less  of  a  com- 
artlett  himself, 
w  much  worse 
!ed  the  talk  by 

"Here  I  am 

uerely  waiting 
myself,  which 
t  to  the  other. 

I  risk  a  fight 
sympathy  for 
ng  over  with 
would  you  do 
and  show  nie 
it  would  help 
;he  other  one. 
■itality." 

hat  over  hifi 
ogely  in  the 


silent  halls  of  the  University  building,  would  plunge  into  the  foretit. 
Yates  generally  l(M)kcd  after  hia  retreating  figure  without  anger,  but 
with  mild  wonder. 

;  "  Well,  V)i  all  cantankerous  cranks  he  is  the  worst,"  he  would  say, 
with  a  sigh,  ft  is  sad  to  see  the  tenipL  of  friendship  tumble  down 
alxiut  one's  ears  in  this  way.  At  their  lust  talk  of  this  kind  Yatea 
resolved  not  to  discuss  the  problem  again  with  the  professor,  uulesa  a 
crisis  came.  The  (irisis  aime  in  the  form  of  HtolikcT,  who  drop|)e<l  in 
on  Yates  as  the  latter  lay  iu  the  liatumutrk  Hinoking  and  enioying  a 
thrilling  romance  belonging  to  the  series  then  in  vogue  among  brainless 
people,  entitled  '*  iJeudle's  Dime  Novels."  The  camp  was  strewn  with 
these  engrossing  pajHsr-covered  works,  and  Yates  had  rt;ud  many  of 
them,  hoping  to  (X)nie  across  a  case  similar  to  his  own,  but  to  tlio  time 
of  Stoliker's  visit  he  had  not  suc(!ee<leil. 

"Hello,  Stolikor!  how's  things?  Got  the  cuffs  in  your  pocket? 
Want  to  have  another  tour  across  country  with  rae  ?" 

*'  No.  But  I  came  to  warn  you.  There  will  be  a  warrant  out  to- 
morrow or  next  day,  and  if  I  were  y(»u  I  would  get  over  to  the  other 
aide,  but  you  need  never  say  I  told  you  to.  Of  course  if  they  give 
the  warrant  to  me  I  shall  have  to  arrest  you;  and  although  uuthiug 
may  l)e  done  to  you,  still  the  country  is  in  a  state  of  excitement,  and 
you  will  at  least  l)e  nut  to  some  iutionvenienoe." 

"  Stoliker,"  criwi  Yates,  springing  out  of  the  hammock,  you  are 
8  white  man !  You're  a  go(Ki  fellow,  Stoliker,  and  I'm  ever  so  much 
obliged.  If  you  ever  come  to  New  York,  you  call  on  me  at  the  Argus 
office, — anybody  will  show  you  where  it  is, — and.  I'll  give  you  the 
liveliest  time  you  ever  had  in  your  life.  It  won't  cost  you  a  cent, 
either." 

"  That's  all  right,"  aaid  the  constable.  ■'  Now,  if  I  were  you  1 
would  light  out  to-morrow  at  the  latest." 

"  1  will,"  said  Yates. 

Stoliker  disappeared  quietly  among  the  trees,  and  Yates,  after  a 
moment's  thoughr,  began  energetically  to  pack  up  his  belongings.  It 
was  dark  before  he  had  finished  and  Ken  mark  returned. 

"  Stilly,"  cried  the  reporter,  cheerily,  "  there's  a  warrant  out  for  my 
arrest.     I  shall  have  to  go  to-morrow  at  the  latest." 

"  What  I  to  jail  ?"  crie<l  his  horrified  friend,  his  conscience  now 
troubling  him,  as  the  parting  came,  for  bis  lack  of  kindness  to  an  old 
comrade. 

"  Not  if  the  court  knows  herself.  But  to  Buffalo,  which  is  pretty 
much  the  same  thing.  Still,  thank  goodness,  I  don't  need  to  stay 
there  long.  I'll  1'  in  New  York  before  I'm  many  days  older.  I 
yearn  to  plunge  int«  he  arena  once  more.  The  still  calm  peacefulness 
of  this  whole  vacation  has  made  me  long  fof  excitement  again,  and  I'm 
glad  the  warrant  has  pii.'<hed  me  into  the  turmoil." 

"  Well,  Richard,  t'n   sorry  you  have  to  go  under  such  conditions. 
I'm  afraid  I  have  not  been  as  companionable  a  comrade  as  you  should' 
have  had." 

"  Oh,  you're  all  right,  Renny.  The  trouble  with  you  is  that  you 
have  drawn  a  little  circle  around  Toronto  University  and  said  to  your- 


206 


"  rif  THE  MWST  OF  ALARMS." 


self,  '  Tills  is  the  world.'  It  isn't^  you  know.  There  is  something 
outside  of  all  that." 

"  Every  man,  doubtless,  has  his  little  circle.  Yours  is  around  the 
Argus  office." 

"  Yes,  but  there  are  special  wires  from  that  little  circle  to  all  the 
rest  of  the  world,  and  soon  there  will  be  an  Atlantic  cable." 

"  I  do  not  hold  that  my  circle  is  as  large  as  youra ;  still,  there  is 
something  outside  of  New  York  eveu." 

"  You  bet  your  life  there  is ;  and,  now  that  you  are  in  a  more 
sympathetic  frame  of  mind,  it  is  that  I  want  to  talk  with  you  about. 
Those  two  girls  are  outfude  my  little  circle,  and  I  want  to  brint>  one 
of  them  within  it.  Kjw,  Renmark,  which  of  those  girl"  would  you 
choose  if  you  were  me  ?" 

The  professor  drew  in  his  breath  shortly,  and  was  silent  for  a 
moment.     At  last  he  said,  speaking  very  slowly, — 

"  I  am  afraid,  Mr.  Yates,  that  you  do  not  quite  appreciate  my 
point  of  view.  '*8  you  may  think  I  have  acted  in  an  unfriendly  man- 
ner, I  will  tr^  lor  the  fir&t  and  final  time  to  explain  it.  I  hold  that 
any  man  who  marries  a  good  woman  gets  more  than  he  deserves,  no 
matter  how.  worthy  he  may  be.  I  have  a  profound  respect  for  all 
women,  and  I  think  that  your  light  chatter  about  choosing  between 
^wo  is  an  insult  to  both  of  them.  I  think  either  of  ti  em  is  infinitely 
too  good  for  you, — or  for  me  either." 

"  Oh,  you  do,  do  you?  Perhaps  yor  think  that  you  would  make 
a  much  better  husband  than  I.  If  that  is  the  case,  allow  me  to  say 
ou  are  entirely  wfong.  If  your  wife  was  sensitive,  you  would  kill 
er  with  your  gloomy  fits.  I  wouldn't  go  off  in  the  woods  and  sulk, 
iByhow." 

"  If  you  are  referring  to  me,  I  will  further  inform  you  that  I  had 
either  to  go  off  in  the  woods  or  knock  you  down.  I  chose  the  lesser 
of  two  evils." 

"  Think  you  could  do  it,  I  suppose  ?  Renny,  you're  conceited. 
You're  not  the  first  man  who  has  made  such  a  mistake  and  found  be 
was  barking  up  the  wrong  tree  when  it  was  too  late  for  anythiqg  but 
bandages  and  arnica." 

"  I  have  tried  to  show  you  how  I  feel  regarding  this  matter.  I 
might  have  known  I  should  not  succeed.  We  will  end  the  discus- 
isiou,  if  you  please." 

"  Oh,  no.  The  discussion  is  just  beginning.  Now,  Renny,  I'll  tell 
you  what  you  need.  You  need  a  good  sensible  wife  worse  than  any 
man  I  know.  It  is  not  yet  too  late  to  save  you,  but  it  soon  will  be. 
Y/a  will,  before  long,  grow  a  crust  on  you,  like  a  snail,  or  a  lobster, 
or  any  other  cold-blooded  animal  that  gets  a  shell  on  itself.  Then 
nothing  can  be  don^s  for  you.  Now  let  me  save  you,  Renny,  before 
it  is  too  late.  Iiere  is  my  proposition.  You  choose  one  of  those  girls 
and  marry  her.  I'U  take  the  other.  I'm  not  as  unselfiSh  as  I  may 
8(«m  in  Uiis,  foi  your  choice  will  save  me  the  worry  cf  making  up 
my  own  mind.  According  to  your  talk,  either  of  the  girls  is  too  good 
for  you,  and  for  once  I  entirely  agree  with  you.  But  let  that  pass. 
Now,  who  is  it  to  be?" 


i 


Tf 


■B— t;"i>  nil 


J^ 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


207 


here  is  sosaething 

ours  is  around  the 

le  circle  to  all  the 

:  cable." 

ui-s;  still,  there  is 

ou  are  in  a  more 
k  with  you  about, 
vant  to  brinp  one 
I  girh  would  you 

was  silent  for  a 

te  appreciate  my 
I  unfriendly  man- 
1  it.  I  hold  that 
1  he  deserves,  no 
d  respect  for  all 
jhoosing  between 
tiem  is  infinitely 

yon  would  make 

allow  me  to  say 

you  would  kill 

woods  and  sulk, 

1  you  that  I  had 
chose  the  lesser 

'ou'i-e  conceited, 
ke  and  found  he 
!br  anything  bat 

this  matter.  I 
end  the  discus- 

Renuy,  I'll  tell 
worse  than  any 
it  soon  will  be. 
lil,  or  a  lobster, 
n  itself.  Then 
,  Renny,  before 
e  of  those  girls 
ilfish  aa  I  may 
cf  making  up 
irJs  is  too  good 
;  kt  that  pass. 


"  Good  God,  man,  do  you  think  1  am  going  to  bargain  with  you 
about  ray  Tuture  wife?" 

"  That's  right,  Renny.  I  like  to  hear  you  swear.  It  shows  you 
are  not  yet  the  prig  you  would  have  folks  believe.  There's  still  hope 
for  you,  professor.  Kow,  I'll  go  further  with  you.  Although  I  can- 
not make  up  my  mind  just  what  to  do  myself,  I  can  tell  instantly  which 
:s  the  girl  for  you,  and  thus  we  solve  both  problems  at  one  stroke.  You 
need  a  wife  who  will  iake  you  in  hand.  You  need  one  who  will  not 
put  up  with  your  tantrums,  who  will  be  cheerful  and  who  will  make  a 
man  of  you.  Kitty  Bartlett  is  the  girl.  She  will  tyrannize  over  you 
just  as  her  mother  does  over  the  old  nan.  She  will  keep  house  to  the 
queen's  taste  and  delight  in  getting  you  good  things  to  eat.  Why, 
everything  is  as  pl&.n  as  a  pike-staff.  That  shows  the  benefit  of  talk- 
ing over  a  thing.  You  marry  Kitty,  and  I'll  marry  Margaret.  Come, 
let's  shake  hands  over  it."  Yates  held  up  his  right  hand  ready  to  slap 
it  down  ou  the  open  palm  of  the  professor,  but  there  was  no  response. 
Yates's  hand  came  down  to  his  side  again,  but  he  had  not  yet  lost  the 
enthusiasm  of  his  proposal.  The  more  he  thought  of  it  the  more 
fitting  it  seemed. 

"  Mai'garet  is  such  a  sensible,  quiet,  level-headed  girl  that,  if  "I  am 
as  flippai>l;  as  you  say,  she  will  he  just  the  wife  for  me.     Thert  are 
depths  In  my  character,  Renmark,  that  you  have  not  suspected." 
"  Oh,  you're  deep." 

"  I  admit  it.  Well,  a  good  sober-minded  woman  would  develop 
the  best  that  is  in  me.     Now,  what  do  you  say,  Reuny  ?" 

"  I  say  nothing.     I  am  going  into  the  woods  again,  dark  as  it  is," 
"  Ah,  well,"  said  Yates,  with  a  sigh,  "  there's  no  doing  anything 
with  you  or  for  you.     I've  tried  my  best :  that  is  one  consolation. 
Don't  go  away.     I'll  let  Fate  decide.     Here  goes  for  a  taes-up." 

And  Yat4  drew  a  silver  half-dollar  from  his  pocket.  "  Heads  for 
Margaret !"  he  cried.  Renmark  clinchetl  his  fist,  took  a  step  forward, 
then  checked  himself,  remembering  that  this  was  his  last  night  with 
the  man  who  had  at  least  once  been  his  friend. 

Yates  merrily  spun  the  coin  in  the  air,  naught  it  in  one  hand,  and 
slapped  the  other  over  it. 

"  Now  lOr  the  turning-point  in  the  lives  of  two  innocent  beings." 
He  raised  the  covering  hand  and  peered  at  the  coin  in  the  gathering 
gloom.  "Hejvds  it  is.  Margaret  Howard  becomes  Mrs.  Richard 
Yates.     Congratulate  me,  professor." 

Renmark  stood  motionless  as  a  st^itue,  an  object-lesson  in  self- 
control.  Ya:es  set  his  hat  more  jauntily  on  his  head,  and  slipped  the 
epoch-making  coin  into  his  trousers-pocket. 

"  Good-by,  old  man,"  he  said.  "  I'll  see  you  later  and  tell  you  all 
the  particulars."  ->> 

Not  waiting  for  the  answer,  which  he  probably  knew  there  would 
have  been  little  use  in  delaying  for,  Yates  walke«l  to  the  fence  and 
sprang  over  it  with  one  hand  on  the  top  rail.  Renmark  stood  still  - 
for  some  minutes,  then  quietly  gathered  underbrush  and  sticks  large 
and  small,  lighted  a  fire,  and  sat  down  on  a  log  with  his  head  in  his 
hands. 


_« 


208 


"/AT   THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Yates  walked  merrily  down  the  road,  whistling  "(Jayly  the 
Troubadour."  Perhaps  there  is  no  moment  in  a  man's  life  that  he 
feels  the  joy  of  being  alive  more  keenly  than  when  he  goes  to  propose 
to  a  girl  of  whose  favorable  answer  he  is  reasonably  sure,  unless  n  be  the 
moment  he  walks  away  an  accepted  lover.  There  is  a  ma^ic  a'^ut  a 
June  night,  witl;  its  soft  velvety  darkness  and  its  sweet  miul  air  laden 
with  the  perfumes  of  wood  and  field.  The  enchantment  of  the  hour 
threw  its  spell  over  the  young  man,  and  he  resolved  to  live  a  better 
life  and  be  worthy  of  the  girl  he  had  chosen,  or,  rather,  that  Fate  had 
chosen  for  him.  He  paused  a  moment  leaning  over  the  fence  neav  to 
the  Howard  homestead,  for  he  had  not  yet  settled  in  his  own  mind  the 
detai'9  of  the  meeting.  He  would  not  go  in,  for  in  that  case  he  knew 
he  would  have  to  talk,  perhaps  for  hours,  with  every  one  but  the 
person  he  wished  to  see.  If  he  announced  himself  and  asked  to  see 
Margaret  alone,  his  doing  so  would  embarrass  her  at  the  very  beginning : 
Yates  was  naturally  too  much  of  a  diplomat  to  commence  awkwardly. 
As  he  stood  there,  wishing  chance  would  bring  her  out  of  the  house, 
there  appeared  a  light  in  the  door-window  of  the  room  where  he  knew 
the  convalescent  boy  lay.  Margaret's  shadow  formed  a  silhouette  on 
the  blindi  Yates  caught  up  a  handful  of  sand  and  flung  it  lightly 
against  the  pane.  Its  soft  patter  evidently  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  girl,  for  after  a  moment's  pause  the  window  opened  carefully,  and 
Margaret  stepped  quickly  out  and  closed  it,  quietlj  standing  there. 

"  Margaret,"  whispered  'Yates,  hardly  above  his  breath. 

The  girl  advanced  towards  the  fenee. 

"  Is  that  youf  she  whispered  in  return,  with  an  accent  on  the  last 
word  that  thrilled  her  listener.  The  accent  told  as  plainly  as  speech 
thftt  the  word  represented  the  one  man  on  earth  to  her. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Yates,  springing  over  the  fence  and  approaching 
her. 

"  Oh  1"  cried  Margaret,  starting  back,  then  checking  herself  with  a 
catch  in  her  voice.     "  You — ^you  startled  me — Mr.  Yates." 

"Not  Mr.  Yates  any  more,  Margaret,  but  Dick.  Margaret,  I 
wanted  to  see  you  alone.  You  know  why  I  have  come."  He  tried 
to  grasp  both  her  hands,  but  she  put  them  resolutely  behind  her, 
seemingly  wishing  to  retreat,  yet  standing  her  ground. 

"  Margaret,  you  must  have  seen  long  ago  how  it  is  with  me.  I 
lov«  you,  Margaret,  loyally  and  truly.  It  seems  as  if  I  had  loved  you 
all  my  life.     1  certainly  have  since  the  first  day  I  saw  yon." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Yates,  you  must  not  talk  to  me  like  this.'" 

*'  My  darling,  how  else  can  I,talk  to  you  ?  It  cannot  be  a  surprise 
to  you,  Margaret.     You  must  have  known  it  long  ago." 

"I  did  not.     Indeed  I  did  not, — if  you  really  mean  it." 
'      "Mean  it?     I  never  meant  anything  as  I  mean  this.     It  is  every- 
thing to  me,  and  nothing  else  is  anything.     I  have  kncoked  about  the 
world  a  good  deal,  I  admit,  b  ut  t  never  was  in  love  before, — never 
knew  what  love  was  until  I  met  you.    I  tell  you  that " 


j^ 


'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS. 


209 


ng  "Qayly  the 
id's  life  that  he 
i  goes  to  propose 
e,  unless  it  be  the 
a  mawjc  a'^ut  a 
;t  mild  air  iaden 
ent  of  the  hour 

to  live  a  better 
r,  that  Fate  had 
■he  fence  near  to 
is  own  mind  the 
it  case  he  knew 
ry  one  but  the 
ind  asked  to  see 
very  beginning : 
loe  awkwardly, 
t  of  the  house, 
where  he  knew 
a  silhouette  on 
flung  it  lightly 
he  attention  of 

carefully,  and 
ding  there, 
ith. 

sent  on  the  last 
ainly  as  speech 

d  approaching 

herself  with  a 

3." 

Mamaret,  I 
e."  He  tried 
y  behind  her, 

8  with  me.  I 
bad  loved  you 
an." 

i  be  a  surprise 

it." 

It  is  every- 
led  about  the 
efore, — never 


"  Please,  please,  Mr.  Yates,  do  not  say  anything  more.    If  it  is 
really  true,  I  cannot  tell  you  how  soiry  I  am.     I  hope  nothing  I  have 

said  or  done  has  made  you  believe  that — that oh,  I  do  not  know 

what  to  say.  I  never  thought  you  could  be  in  earnest  about  anything." 
"You  surely  caniot  have  so  misjudged  me,  Mai^ret.  Others 
have,  but  I  did  not  expect  it  of  you.  You  are  far  and  away  better 
than  I  am.  No  one  knows  that  better  than  I.  I  do  not  pretend  to  be 
worthy  of  you,  but  I  will  be  a  good  husband  to  you.  Any  man  who 
gets  the  love  of  a  good  woman,"  continued  Yates,  earnestly,  plagia- 
rizing Renmark,  "  gets  more  than  he  deserves ;  but  surely  such  love 
as  mine  is  not  given  merely  to  be  scornfully  trampled  under  foot." 

'■*  L  do  not  treat  your — you  scornfully.  I  am  only  sorry  if  what 
you  say  is  true." 

"  Why  do  you  say  if  it  is  true  ?    Doo't  you  know  it  is  true  ?" 
"  Then  I  am  very  sorry, — very,  very  sorry,  and  I  ho{»e  it  is  through 
no  fault  of  mine.    But  you  will  soon  forget  me.    When  you  return  to 

New  York » 

"  Mai-garet,"  said  the  young  man,  bitterly,  "  I  shall  never  forget 
you.  Think  what  you  are  doing,  before  it  is  too  late.  Think  how 
much  this  means  to  me.  If  you  finally  refuse  me,  you  wil'  wreck  ray 
life.  I  am  the  sort  of  man  that  a  woman  can  make  or  mar.  i>o  not, 
I  beg  of  you,  ruin  the  life  of  the  man  who  loves  you." 

"  I  am  not  a  missionary,"  cried  Margaret,  with  sudden  anger.    "  If 
your  life  is  to  be  wrecked  it  will  be  thrjugh  your  own  foolishness,  and 
not  from  any  act  of  mine.     I  think  it  cowardly  of  you  to  say  that  I 
am  to  be  held  responsible.    I  have  no  wish  to  influence  your  future  ^ 
one  way  or  another." 

"  Not  for  good,  Margaret?"  asked  Yates,  with  tender  r-proach. 
"  No.     A  man  whose  good  or  bad  conduct  depends  on  any  one  else 
but  himself  is  not  mv  ideal  of  a  man." 

"  Tell  me  what  your  ideal  is,  so  that  I  may  try  to  attain  it." 
Margaret  was  silent. 

"  You  tliink  it  will  be  useless  for  me  to  try?" 
"  As  far  as  I  am  oonceraed,  yes." 

"  Margaret,  I  want  to  ask  you  one  more  question.    I  have  no  right 
to,  but  I  beg  you  to  answer  me.     Are  you  in  love  with  any  one  else  f 
"  No,"  cried  Margaret,  hotly.    "  How  dare  you  ask  me  such  a 
question  f 

*'  Oh,  it  is  not  a  crime, — that  is,  being  in  love  with  some  one  else 
is  not.  I'll  tell  you  why  I  dare  ask.  I  swear  by  all  the  gods  that  I 
shall  win  you,  if  not  this  year,  then  next,  and  if  not  next,  then  the  year 
after.  I  was  a  (»wprd  to  talk  as  I  did ;  but  I  love  you  more  now 
than  I  did  even  then.  All  I  want  to  know  is  that  you  are  not  in  love  ' 
with  another  man." 

"  I  think  you  are  very  cruel  in  persisting  as  you  do,  when  you  have 
had  yoar  answer.  I  say  no.  Never !  never !  never  l—thi?  year  nor 
any  other  year.     Is  not  that  enoujjh  ?" 

"Not  for  me.     A  woman's  *no'  may  ultimately  mean  'yes.'" 
"That  is  true,  Mr.  Yates,"  replied  Margaret,  drawing  herr-lf  up 
as  one  who  makes  a  final  plunge.    "  You  remember  thi3  question  you 
Vol.  LII,-14 


am 


210 


IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


*'■ 


I 'VI 


asked  me  just  now? — whether  I  cared  for  any  jne  else?  I  said  'no.' 
That -no'  meant 'yes.'" 

He  was  standing  between  her  and  the  window,  ho  she  could  not 
escape  by  the  way  she  came.  He  saw  she  medita'«d  flight,  and  made 
as  though  he  wouM  intercept  her,  but  she  was  too  quick  for  him.  She 
ran  around  the  house,  and  he  heard  a  door  open  and  shut. 

He  knew  he  was  defeated.  Dejectedly  he  turned  to  the  fence,  climb- 
ing slowly  over  whert  he  had  leaped  so  lightly  a  few  mii-ites  before, 
and  walked  down  the  road,  cursing  his  fate.  Although  he  admitted 
he  was  a  coward  in  talking  to  her  as  he  did  about  his  wrecked  life,  yet 
h*.  knew  now  that  every  word  he  had  spoken  was  true.  What  did  the 
future  hold  out  to  him  ?  Not  even  the  incentive  to  live.  He  found 
himself  walking  towards  the  tent,  but,  not  wishing  to  meet  Renmark  in 
his  present  frame  of  mind,  he  turned  and  came  out  on  the  Ridge  Road. 
He  was  tired  and  broken,  and  resolved  to  fitay  in  camp  until  they 
a^'rested  him.  Then  perhaps  she  might  have  some  pity  on  him.  Who 
was  the  other  man  she  loved?  or  had  she  merely  said  that  to  give 
finality  to  her  refusal  ?  In  his  present  mood  he  pictured  the  worst,  and 
imagined  her  the  wife  of  some  neighboring  farmer, — perhaps  even  of 
Stoliker.  These  country-girls,  he  said  to  himself,  never  believed  a  man 
was  worth  looking  at  unless  he  owned  a  farm.  He  would  save  his 
money  and  buy  up  the  whole  neighborhood;  then  she  would  realize 
what  she  had  missed.  He  climbed  up  on  the  fence  beside  the  road,  and 
sat  on  the  top  rail,  with  his  heels  resting  on  a  lower  one,  so  that  he 
might  eujoy  his  misery  without  the  fatigue  of  walking.  His  vivid 
imagination  pieture<l  himself  as  in  a  few  years'  time  the  owner  of  a 
large  section  of  that  part  of  the  country,  with  mortgages  on  a  good 
deal  of  the  remainder,  including  the  farm  owned  b>  Margaret's  nus- 
band.  He  saw  her  now  a  farmer's  faded  wife  coming  to  him  and  b^- 
ging  for  further  time  in  which  to  pay  tht  seven  per  cent.  due.  He 
knew  he  would  act  magnanimously  on  sujh  an  occasion  and  grandly 
give  her  husband  all  the  time  he  required.  Perhaps  then  she  would 
realize  the  mistake  she  had  made.  Or  perhaps  fame  rather  than  riches 
would  be  his  line.  His  name  would  ring  throughout  the  If -ad.  He 
might  become  a  great  politician  and  bankrupt  Canada  with  a  rigid 
tariff  law.  The  unfairness  of  making  the  whole  innocent  people  sufiSer 
for  the  inconsiderate  act  of  one  of  them  did  not  occur  to  him  at  the 
moment,  for  he  was  humiliated  and  hurt.  There  is  no  bitterness  like 
that  which  assails  the  man  who  has  been  rejected  by  the  girl  he  adores, 
— while  it  lasts.  His  eye  wandered  towards  the  black  mass  of  the 
Howard  house.  It  was  as  dark  as  his  thoughts.  He  turned  his  head 
slowly  around,  and  like  a  brighi  star  of  hope  there  glimmered  up  the 
road  a  flickering  light  from  the  Bartletts'  parlor  window.  Although 
time  had  stopped  as  far  as  he  was  oancemed,  he  was  convinced  it  could 
not  ?te  very  late,  or  the  Bartletts  would  have  gone  to  bed.  It  is  always 
diflicult  to  realize  that  the  greatest  of  catastrophes  are  generally  over 
in  p  *ew  minutes.  It  seemed  an  agi!  since  he  walked  so  hopefully  away 
ii-c-  .1  :h^  -.e-^.'.  As  he  looked  at  th«  light  the  thought  struck  him  that 
, ,p(.r:)'ij^e  Kiri,y  was  alone  in  the  parlor.  She  at  least  would  not  have 
tK>atc(^  ^im  so  badly  as  the  t  ':her  girl  j  and — ^and  she  was  pretty,  too, 


.i.-i'.^^':  m 


laala— iiiiiiinii 


fc*!*' 


■'"ny;! 


^£_g|- 


Ise? 


I  said  *  no.* 


■JO  she  could  not 
flight,  and  made 
ick  for  him.  She 
)hut. 

>  the  fence,  clirab- 
V  mil  •ites  before, 
>ugh  he  admitted 
wrecked  life,  yet 
J.    What  did  the 
live.     He  found 
meet  Ren  mark  in 
the  Ridge  Road, 
camp  until  they 
ty  on  him.   Who 
aid  that  to  give 
3d  the  worst,  and 
perhaps  even  of 
r  believed  a  man 
would  save  his 
le  would  realize 
ide  the  road,  and 
■  oue,  so  that  he 
ing.    His  vivid 
the  owner  of  a 
[ages  on  a  good 
Margaret's  hus- 
to  him  and  beg- 
cent.  due.    lie 
ion  and  grandly 
then  she  would 
ther  than  riches 
i  the  If  ad.    He 
da  with  a  rigid 
ent  people  suffer 
p  to  him  at  the 
)  bitterness  like 
i  girl  he  adores, 
ck  mass  of  the 
turned  his  head 
mmered  up  the 
low.     Although 
ivinced  it  could 
d.    It  is  always 
J  generally  over 
hopefully  away 
struck  him  that 
vould  not  have 
was  pretty,  too, 


"  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


211 


come  to  think  of  it.    Ha  always  did  like  a  blonde  better  than   a 
bruue*;te. 

A  fence-rail  is  not  a  comfortable  seat.  It  is  used  in  some  parts  of 
the  country  in  such  a  manner  as  to  impress  the  sitter  with  the  fact  of 
it?  extreme  discomfort,  and  as  a  gentle  hint  that  his  presence  is  not 
wanted  in  that  immediate  neighborhood.  Yates  recollected  this  with 
a  smile  as  he  slid  off  and  stumbled  into  the  ditch  by  the  side  of  the 
road.  His  mind  had  been  so  preoccupied  that  he  had  forgotten  about 
the  ditch.  As  he  walked  along  the  road  towards  t!ie  star  that  guided 
him,  he  remembered  he  had  recklessly  offered  Miss  Kitty  to  the  cal- 
lous professor.  After  all,  no  one  knew  about  the  episode  of  a  short 
time  befoi*  except  himself  and  Margaret,  and  he  felt  convinced  she 
was  not  a  girl  to  boast  of  her  conquests.  Anyhow,  it  didn't  matter. 
A  man  is  surely  master  of  himself. 

As  he  neared  the  window  he  looked  in.  People  are  not  particular 
about  Ipwei'ing  the  blinds  in  the  country.  He  was  rather  disappointed 
to  see  Mrs.  Bartlett  sitting  there  knitting,  like  the  industrious  woman 
she  was.  t\ti\\,  it  was  consoling  to  note  that  none  of  the  men-folks 
were  presetit,  and  that  Kitty,  with  her  fluffy  hair  half  concealing  her 
face,  sat  reading  a  book  he  had  lent  to  her.  He  rapped  at  the  door, 
and  it  was  opened  by  Mrs.  Bartlett  with  some  surprise. 

"  For  the  land's  sake,  is  that  you,  Mr.  Yates?" 

"It  is." 

"  Come  right  in.    Why,  what's  the  matter  with  you  ? 
as  if  you  had  lost  your  best  friend.     Ah,  I  see  how  it  is, 
started: — "you  have  run  out  of  provisions,  and  are  very 
hungty  as  a  bear." 

"You've  hit  it  first  time,  Mrs.  Bartlett.  I  dropped  around  to 
see  if  I  could  borrow  a  loaf  of  bread.  We  don't  t«ke  till  to-mor- 
row." 

Mrs.  Bartlett  langhed. 

*'  Nice  baking  you  would  do  if  you  tried  it.  I'll  get  yon  a  loaf  in 
a  minute.    Are  you  nure  one  is  enough  ?" 

"  Quite  enough,  thank  you." 

The  good  woman  bustled  out  to  the  other  room  f«>r  the  loaf,  and 
Yates  mads  good  upe  of  her  temporary  absence. 

"  Kitty,"  he  whispered,  "  I  want  to  see  you  alone  for  a  few  minutes. 
I'll  wait  for  you  at  the  gate.    Can  you  slip  out  ?" 

Kitty  blushed  very  red  and  nodded. 

"  They  have  a  warrant  out  for  my  arrest,  and  I'm  off  to-morrow 
before  they  am  serve  it.    But  I  ooulda^t  go  without  seeing  you.    You'Ii 


You  look 
"—Yates 
likely  as 


come,  sure  ?" 


Again  Kitty  nodded,  afler  lookiitg  up  at  him  in  alarm  whea  he 
spoke  of  the  warrant.  Before  anything  laither  could  be  said,  Mrs. 
Bartlett  came  in,  and  Kitty  was  aljsorbed  in  her  book. 

"Won't  you  have  something      eat  now  before  you  go  back?" 

"     '    you,  Mrs.  Bartlett.     You  see,  the  professor  is 


"Oh,  no,  thank 
waiting  for  me." 

"  Let  him  wait,  if  he  didn't  have  sense  enough  to  come." 
"  He  didn't.    I  offered  him  the  chance," 


rm  ■iniirwtMTi 


MWJMWiJWBW 


212 


"/y  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


"  It  won't  take  us  a  moment  to  set  the  table.  It  is  not  the  least 
trouble." 

"Really,  Mrs.  Bartlett,  you  are  verj'  kind.  1  am  not  in  the 
slightest  degree  hungry  now.  I  am  merely  w ''ing  some  thought  of 
the  morrow.     No ;  I  must  be  going,  and  thank  you  very  much. 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Bartlett,  seeing  him  to  the  door,  '■  if  there's 
anything  you  wajt,  come  to  me,  and  I  will  let  you  have  iK  if  it's  in 
the  house. 

"You  aretoo  good  to  me,"  said  the  young  man,  with  genuine 

~  may  ren'.jnd  you  of  your  prom- 


"  Good-night." 


feeling,  "  and  I  don't  deserve  it ;  but 
lee — to-morrow." 

"  See  that  you  do,"  she  answered 

Yates  waited  at  the  gate,  placing  the  loaf  on  the  :ost,  where  he 
forgot  it,  much  to  the  astonishment  of  the  donor  in  the  morning.  He 
did  not  have  to  wait  long,  for  Kitty  came  around  the  hou3e  somewhat 
shrinkingly,  as  ore  who  was  doing  the  most  wicked  thing  that  had 
been  done  since  tht  world  began.  Yates  hastened  to  meet  her,  clasping 
ona  of  her  unresisti.ig  hands  in  his. 

"  I  must  be  off  to-morrow,"  he  '  "gan. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  answered  Kitty,  in  a  whisper. 

"  Ah,  Kitty,  you  ive  not  half  so  sorry  as  I  am.  But  I  intend  to 
come  back,  if  you  will  iet  me.  Kitty,  you  remember  that  talk  we  had 
in  the  kitchen  when  we- -when  tlitire  was  an  interruption,  and  when  I 
had  to  go  away  with  our  ."riend  Stoliker  ?" 

Kitty  indicate  •^  *hat  she  remembered  it. 

"  W?!l,  of  courht  you  knov/  what  I  wanted  to  say  to  you.  Of  course 
you  know  what  I  want  to  say  to  you- now." 

It  seemed,  however,  that  in  this  he  was  mistaken,  for  Kitty  had  not 
the  slightest  idea,  and  wanted  to  go  into  the  house,  for  it  was  late,  and 
her  mother  would  miss  her. 

"  Kitty,  you  darling  little  humbug,  you  know  that  I  love  you.  You 
must  know  that  I  have  loved  you  ever  since  the  first  day  I  saw  you, 
when  you  laughed  at  me.  Kitty,  I  want  you  to  marry  me  "-d  make 
something  of  me,  if  that  is  possible.  I  am  a  worthless  fellow,  not  half 
good  enough  for  a  little  pet  like  you,  but,  Kitty,  if  you  will  only  say 
yes  I  will  try,  and  try  hard,  to  be  a  better  man  than  I  have  ever  been 
before." 

Kitty  did  not  say  "yes,"  but  she  placed  her  disengaged  hand  waim 
and  soft  upon  his,  and  Yates  was  not  the  man  to  have  any  hesitation 
about  what  to  do  next.  To  practical  people  it  may  seem  an  astonishing 
thing  that  the  object  of  the  interview  being  happily  accomplished  there 
should  be  any  need  of  prolonging  it,  yet  the  two  lingere<i  there,  and  he 
told  her  much  of  his  past  life,  and  of  how  lonely  and  sordid  it  had 
been  because  he  had  no  one  to  care  for  him, — at  which  her  pretty  eyas 
filled  with  tears.  She  felt  proud  and  happy  to  think  she  had  won  the 
first  great  love  of  a  talented  man's  life,  and  hoped  she  would  make  him 
happy  and  iu  a  measure  atone  for  the  emptiness  of  the  life  that  had 
gone  before.  She  prayed  that  he  might  always  K  as  fond  of  her  as  he 
was  then,  and  resolved  to  be  worthy  of  him  if  she  could.  Strange  to 
say,  her  wishes  were  amply  fulfilled,  and  few  wives  are  as  happy  or  as 


Mutam 


i/lf  I  Hi   I    I     "irflliiiltl' 


I 


!t  is  not  the  least 

am  not  in  the 
some  thought  of 
ery  much, 
[loor,  'if  there's 

have  i<.  if  it's  in 

»D,  with  genuine 
)u  of  your  prom- 


2  ■ost,  where  he 
le  morning.  He 
hou3e  somewhat 
I  thing  that  had 
aeet  her,  clasping 


>*JN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


213 


proud  of  their  husbands  as  Kitty  Bartlett  that  was.  The  one  woman 
who  might  have  put  the  drop  of  bittb'*n&ss  in  her  cup  of  life  merely 
kissed  her  tenderly  when  Kitty  told  her  of  the  great  joy  that  had  come 
to  her,  and  said  she  was  sure  she  would  be  happy ;  and  thus  for  the 
second  time  Margaret  told  the  thing  that  was  not,  but  for  once  Margaret 
was  wrong  in  her  fears. 

Yates  walked  to  the  tent  a  glorified  man,  leaving  his  loaf  on  the 
gate-post  behind  him.  Few  realize  that  it  is  quite  as  pleasant  to  be 
lovea  as  to  love.  The  verb  "  to  love"  has  many  conjugations.  The 
earth  he  trod  was  like  no  other  ground  he  had  ever  walked  upon.  The 
magic  of  the  June  night  was  never  so  enchanting  before.  He  walked 
with  his  head  and  his  thoughts  in  the  clouds,  and  the  Providence  that 
cares  for  the  intoxicated  looked  after  him  and  saw  that  the  accepted 
lover  came  to  r.o  harm.  He  leaped  the  fence  without  even  putting  his 
hand  to  it,  and  thon  was  brought  to  earth  again  by  the  picture  of  a  man 
sitting  with  his  head  in  his  hands  beside  a  dying  fire. 


But  I  intend  to 
that  talk  we  had 
tion,  and  when  I 


you. 


Of 


course 


or  Kitty  had  not 
'  it  was  late,  and 

love  you.  You 
b  day  I  saw  you, 
ry  me  '^"i  make 
fellow,  not  half 
ou  will  only  say 
have  ever  been 

iged  hand  wai.ia 
e  any  hesitation 
3  an  astonishing 
omplished  there 
di\  there,  and  he 
1  sordid  it  had 
her  pretty  eyca 
ihe  had  won  the 
rould  make  him 
e  life  that  had 
lid  of  her  as  he 
Id.  Strange  to 
as  happy  or  as 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Yates  stood  for  a  moment  r^rding  the  dejected  attitude  of  his 
friend. 

"Hello,  old  man,"  he  cried,  "you  have  the:  most '  hark-from-the- 
tomba'  appearance  I  ever  saw.    What's  the  matter  ?" 

Renmark  looked  up. 

"Oh,  it's  you,  is  i*,?" 

"Of  course  it's  I.     Been  expecting  anybody  else ?" 

"  No.  I  have  been  waiting  for  you,  and  thinking  of  a  variety  of 
things." 

"You  look  it.  Well,  Renny,  congratulate  me,  my  boy.  She's 
mine,  and  I'm  hers, — which  is  two  ways  of  stating  the  same  delightful 
fact.  I'm  up  in  a  balloon,  Renny.  I'm  engaged  to  the  prettiest, 
sweetest,  and  most  delightful  girl  there  is  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific.  What  d'ye  think  of  that?  Say,  Renmark,  there's  nothing 
on  earth  like  it.  You  ought  to  reform  and  go  in  for  being  in  love. 
It  would  make  a  man  of  you.  Champagne  isn't  to  be  compared  to  it. 
Get  up  here  and  dance,  and  don't  sit  there  like  a  bear  nursing  a  sore 
paw.  Do  you  comprehend  that  I  am  to  be  married  to  the  darlingest 
girl  that  lives?" 

"God  help  her!" 

"  That's  what  I  say.  Every  day  of  her  life,  bless  her  f  But  I 
don't  say  it  quite  in  that  tone,  Renmark.  What's  the  matter  with 
you  ?  One  would  think  you  were  in  lovejvith  the  girl  yourself,  if 
such  a  thing  were  possible." 

"  Why  is  it  not  possible  ?" 

"  If  that  is  a  conundrum  I  can  answer  it  the  first  time.     Because^ 
you  are  a  fossil.     You  are  too  good,  Renny,  therefore  dull  and  uninter- 
esting.    Now,  there  is  nothing  a  woman  likes  so  much  as  to  reclaim  a 
man.     It  always  annoys  a  woman  to  know  that  the  man  she  is  inter- 
ested in  has  a  past  with  which  she  has  had  nothing  to  do.     If  he  is 


iiM'M'iiini 


214 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS." 


wicked  and  she  oau  sort  of  make  him  over,  like  an  old  drtjss,  ehv  revelo 
in  the  prioess.  Sin;  flatters  herself  she  makes  a  new  man  of  him,  and 
thinks  t-lie  owns  thnt  new  man  by  right  of  manufacture.  We  owe  it 
to  the  sex,  Renny,  to  give  'em  a  chance  at  reforming  us.  I  have 
known  men  who  iiated  tobacco  take  to  smoking  merely  to  give  it  up 
joyfully  for  tl>o  sake  of  the  v/oiuan  they  loved.  Now,  if  a  man  is 
perfect  to  begin  with,  what  is  a  dear  ministering  angel  of  a  woman  to 
do  witli  him  ?  Manifestly,  nothing.  The  trouble  with  you,  Renny, 
is  that  you  are  too  evidently  ruled  by  a  good  and  well-trained  con- 
science, and  naturally  all  women  you  meet  intuitively  see  this  and 
have  no  use  for  you.  A  little  wioke<luess  would  be  the  making  of 
you." 

"  Do  you  think,  then,  that  if  a  man's  impulse  is  to  do  what  ais 
conscience  tells  him  is  wrong,  he  should  follow  his  impulse  and  not  his 
conscience  ?" 

"  You  state  the  case  with  unnecessary  seriousness.  I  think  that  an 
occasional  blow-out  is  good  for  a  man.  But  if  yoa  ever  have  an  im- 
pulse of  that  kind,  I  think  you  should  irive  way  to  it  for  once,  just  to 
see  how  it  feels.     A  man  who  is  too  good  get>j  conceited  about  himself." 

"  I  half  believe  you  are  right,  Mr.  Tf  aU«,"  said  the  professor, 
rising.  **  I  will  act  on  your  advice,  and,  as  you  put  it,  see  how  it  feels. 
My  conscience  tells  me  that  I  should  congrstolate  you  and  wish  you  a 
long  and  happy  life  with  the  girl  voa  have — I  won't  say  chosen,  but 
tossed  up  for.  The  natural  man  m  me,  on  the  other  hand,  urges  me 
to  break  every  bone  in  your  worthless  body.  Throw  ofiP  your  coat, 
Yates," 

"  Oh,  I  say,  Renmark,  you're  crazy.'* 

"  Perhaps  so.  Be  all  the  more  on  your  guard,  if  you  believe  it. 
A  lunatic  is  sometimes  dangerous." 

"  Oh.  go  away.     You're  dreaming.     You're  talking  in  your  sleep. 
"What?  V^ht?    To-night?     Nonseuse!" 
''      "  Do  V  >u  want  me  to  strike  you  before  you  are  ready  ?" 

"  No,  lienny,  no.  My  wants  are  always  modest  I  don't  wish  to 
fight  at  all,  especially  to-night.  I'm  a  reformed  man,  T  tell  you.  I 
have  no  desire  to  bid  good-by  to  my  best  girl  w:th  a  black  eye  to- 
morrow." 

"  Then  stop  talking,  if  you  can,  and  defend  yourself." 

''  It's  impossible  to  fight  here  in  the  dark.  Don't  flatter  yourself 
for  a  moment  that  I  am  afraid.  You  just  spar  with  yourself  and  get 
limbered  up  while  I  put  some  wood  on  the  fire.  This  is  too  ridicu- 
lous." 

Yates  gathered  up  ume  fuel  and  managed  to  ooax  the  dying 
embers  into  a  blaze. 

"  There,"  he  said,  "  tt  at's  better.  Now  let  me  have  a  look  at  you. 
In  the  name  of  wonder,  Renny,  what  do  you  want  to  fight  me  for, 
to-night?" 

"  I  refuse  to  give  my  reason." 

"  Then  I  refuse  to  fight.  I'll  run,  and  I  can  beat  you  in  a  foot- 
race any  day  in  the  week.  Why,  you're  worse  than  her  &ther.  He 
at  least  let  me  know  why  he  fought  me." 


^^ 


mmAi 


it^^mtm 


mmm 


HXftfW^WI 


1  drfcss,  flh«  revelfl 
man  of  him,  and 
lire.  We  owe  it 
ling  U8.  I  have 
ely  to  give  it  up 
fow,  it"  a  man  is 
il  of  a  woman  to 
with  you,  Renny, 
well-trained  oon- 
ely  see  this  and 
!  the  making  of 

I  to  do  what  a  is 
pulee  and  not  his 

I  think  that  an 
ver  have  an  im- 

for  once,  just  to 
I  about  himself." 
d  the  professor, 
,  see  how  it  feels. 

and  wish  you  a 
t  say  chosen,  but 
■  hand,  urges  me 
w  off  your  coat. 


f  you  believe  it. 

ig  in  your  sleep. 

dy?» 

I  don't  wish  to 
I,  T  tell  you.  I 
a  black  eye  to- 

If." 

flatter  yourself 
yourself  and  get 
is  is  too  ridicu- 

Doax  the  dying 

e  a  look  at  you. 
0  fight  me  for, 


you  in  a  foot- 
ter  fiither.    He 


"/if  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


215 


"Whose  father?" 

"  Kitty's  father,  of  (X)ura-, — my  future  father-in-law.  And  that's 
another  ordeal  ahead  of  me.  I  haven't  Hpoken  to  the  old  man  yet, 
and  I  need  all  my  fighting  grit  for  that." 

"  What  are  you  talking  about?" 

"Isn't  my  language  plain  ?     It  usually  is." 

"  To  whom  are  you  eugage<l?  As  I  understand  your  talk,  it  is  to 
Miss  Bartlett.    Am  I  right  ?" 

"Right  as  rain,  Renny.  This  fire  is  dying  down  again.  Say, 
can't  we  postpone  our  fracas  uniil  daylight  ?  I  don't  want  to  gather 
any  more  wood.  Besides,  one  of  us  is  sure  to  be  knocked  into  the  firo 
and  thus  ru 'n  whatever  is  left  of  our  clothes.     What  do  you  say  ?" 

"  Say  ?     I  say  I  am  an  idiot." 

"  Hello  !  reason  is  returning,  Renny.     I  perfectly  agree  with  you." 

"  Thank  you.  Then  you  did  not  propose  to  Mar — to  Miss  How- 
ard?" 

''•  Now  you  touch  upon  a  sore  spot,  Renraark,  that  I  am  trying  to 
forget.  You  remember  the  unfort  aate  toss-up ;  in  fact,  I  '  liink  you 
referred  to  it  a  moment  ago,  and  y  ju  were  justly  indignant  about  it 
at  the  time.  Well,  I  don't  care  to  talk  much  about  the  sequel,  but, 
as  you  know  the  beginning,  you  will  have  to  know  the  end,  because  I  want 
to  wring  a  second  promise  from  '^ou.  You  are  never  to  mention  this 
episode  c:'  the  toss-up  or  of  my  confession  to  any  living  soul.  The 
telling  of  it  might  do  harm,  and  it  couldn't  possibly  do  any  good. 
Will  yoK  promise?" 

"  Certainly.     But  do  not  tell  .^  ^  unless  vou  wish  to." 

"  I  don't  exactly  yearn  to  talk  about  it,  but  it  is  better  you  should 
understand  how  the  land  lies,  so  you  won't  make  any  mistake.  Not 
on  my  account,  you  know,  but  I  would  not  like  it  to  come  to  Kitty's 
tars.  Yes,  I  proposed  to  Margaret— first.  She  wouldn't  look  at  me. 
Can  you  credit  that  ?" 

"  Well,  now  that  you  mention  it,  I "  % 

"  Exactly.  I  see  you  oan  credit  it.  Well,  I  couldn't  at  first,  but 
Margaret  knows  her  own  mind,  there's  no  question  abccit  that.  Say ! 
she's  in  love  with  some  other  fellow.     I  found  that  mucii  out." 

"  You  asked  her,  I  pn«ume." 

"  Well,  it's  my  profession  to  find  things  ou.. ;  and,  naturally,  if  I 
do  that  for  my  paper  it  is  not  likely  1  am  going  to  be  behindhand 
when  it  oomef^  to  myself.  She  denied  it  at  first,  but  admitted  it  after- 
wards, and  then  bdlted." 

"  You  must  have  u&dd  great  tact  and  delicacy." 

"  See  here,  Renmark,  I'm  not  going  to  stand  any  of  your  sneering. 
1  told  you  this  was  a  sore  subject  with  me_^  I'm  not  telling  you  be- 
cause I  like  to,  but  bemuse  I  have  to.  'Don't  put  me  in  fighting 
humor,  Mr.  Renmark.  If  /  talk  fight  I  won't  begin  for  no  reason 
and  then  back  out  for  no  reason.    I'll  go  on." 

"  I'll  be  discreet,  and  beg  to  take  back  all  I  said.     What  else?"  '^ 

"Nothing  else.  Isn't  that  enough?  It  was  more  than  enough 
for  me — at  wie  time.  I  tell  you,  Renraark,  I  spent  a  pretty  bad  half- 
hour  sitting  on  the  fence  and  thinking  about  it.' 


^MKiR 


21A 


"IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS. 


"So  lonj;:a«thaf,?" 

Yate<i  rose  from  the  fire  indignantly. 

"I  take  that  back  too,"  cried  tlie  professor,  liastily.  "I  didn't 
mean  it." 

"  It  striKea  me  you've  l)Cf  .i  awl'iiily  funny  all  of  a  sudden. 
Don't  you  think  it's  about  time  \        ok  to  our  bunks?     It's  l»te." 

lieinnark  a^recxl  with  him,  but  did  not  turn  in.  He  wnlked  to  the 
friendly  fcno3,  laid  his  arms  along  the  top  rail,  and  gaz(!<l  at  %,\\c  friendly 
Btars.  He  hud  not  notice<l  lietore  liow  lovely  the  night  was,  with  its 
iinpreasive  ntillncfls,  as  if  the  world  had  stopped  as  a  stcnmer  Bto[)8  in 
mid-ocean.  After  quieting  his  troubled  spirit  in  the  reHtful  stars,  lie 
climbed  the  fence  and  walked  down  the  road,  taking  little  heed  of  the 
direction.  The  still  night  v/\..i  a  8(K)thing  companion.  He  came  at 
last  lo  u  (deeping  village  of  wooden  houses,  and  through  the  centre  of 
the  town  r»n  a  single  line  of  rails,  an  iron  link  connecting  the  unknown 
linnilet  with  all  civilization.  A  red  and  a  green  light  glimmered  down 
the  line,  giving  the  only  indication  that  a  train  ever  came  that  way. 
Ao  he  went  a  mile  or  two  farther,  the  cool  breath  of  the  gi'eat  lake  made 
itself  felt,  and  after  crossing  a  field  he  suddenly  came  upon  the  water, 
finding  till  farther  progress  in  that  direction  barred.  Huge  sand  dunes 
formen  the  shore,  covered  with  sighing  pines.  At  the  foot  of  the 
diinetJ  stretoheil  a  broad  ))oach  of  firm  sanJ  dimly  visible  in  contrast 
with  the  darker  water,  and  at  long  intervals  on  the  Hand  fell  the  light 
ripple  cf  the  languid  summer  wavca  running  up  the  beach  with  a  half- 
asleep  whisper  that  became  softer  avid  softer  until  it  was  merged  in  the 
silence  beyond.  Far  out  on  the  dark  waters,  a  jwint  of  light,  like  a 
floating  star,  showed  where  a  steamer. was  slowly  making  her  way,  and 
so  still  was  the  night  that  be  felt,  rnther  than  heard,  her  pulsating 
enginf.8.  It  was  tfie  only  sign  of  life  visible  from  that  enchanted  buy, 
— the  bay  of  the  silver  beach. 

Renmark  threw  himself  down  on  the  soft  sand  at  the  foot  of  a 
dune.  The  ))oint  of  light  gradually  worked  its  way  to  the  west,  fol- 
lowing, do!ibtle&s  unconsciously,  the  star  jf  empire,  and  disappeared 
around  the  headland,  taking  with  it  a  certain  vague  sense  of  compan- 
ionship. But  the  world  is  very  small,  and  a  man  is  never  quito  as 
much  alone  as  he  thinks  he  is.  Renmark  heard  the  low  hoot  of  an 
owl  among  the  trcas,  which  cry  he  was  astonished  to  hear  answered 
from  the  water.  He  sat  up  and  listened.  Presently  there  grated  on 
the  sand  the  keel  of  a  boat,  and  some  one  stepped  ashore.  From  the 
woods  there  emerged  the  shadowy  forms  of  three  men.  Nothing  was 
said,  but  they  got  silently  into  the  boat,  which  might  have  been 
Charon's  craft  for  all  he  could  see  of  it.  The  rattle  of  the  rowlocks 
and  the  plash  of  oara  followed,  vhile  a  voice  cautioned  the  rowers  to 
make  less  noise.  It  was  evident  that  dome  belated  fugitives  were 
eluding  the  authorities  of  both  countries.  Renmark  thought  with  a 
smile  that  if  Yates  were  in  his  place  he  would  at  least  give  them  a 
fright.  A  isharp  command  to  an  imaginary  company  to  loa*'  "ud  fire 
would  travel  far  on  such  a  night,  and  would  give  the  rowers  a  few 
moments  of  great  discomfort.  Renmark,  however,  did  not  shout,  but 
treated  the  episode  as  part  of  the  mystical  dream,  and  lay  down  on 


m 


■■wJK-Maaj 


"^Ml 


s^.^ 


mmmifwmMBmmSL 


stily.    "I  didn't 

all  of  a  Budden. 
I?    It'H  lute." 
He  wnlked  to  the 
••d  at  vhe  friendly 
gilt  was,  with  its 
steniner  stops  in 
J  restful  stars,  he 
little  heed  of  the 
•n.     He  came  at 
i/rh  the  centre  of 
in^  the  unknown 
glimmered  down 

came  that  way. 
!  great  lake  made 

upon  the  water, 
iuge  sand  dunes 
the  f(K)t  of  the 
'ibie  in  contrast 
»d  fell  the  light 
ach  with  a  half- 
is  merged  in  the 

of  light,  like  a 
3g  her  way,  and 
I,  her  pulsating 

enchanted  buy, 

t  the  foot  of  a 

0  the  west,  fol- 
nd  disappeared 
nse  of  compan- 

never  quite  as 
low  hoot  of  an 

hear  answered 

liere  grated  on 
)re.  Prom  the 
Nothing  was 
ght  have  been 
f  the  rowlocks 

1  the  rowers  to 
fugitives  were 
thought  with  a 
8t  give  them  a 

0  W  •»nd  fire 
s  rowers  a  few 
not  shout,  but 

1  lay  down  on 


*'IN  THE  MIDST  OF  ALARMS.' 


817 


the  sand  again.  Fie  noticed  that  the  water  in  the  oast  seeme<l  to  feel 
the  approach  of  day  even  l)efore  the  .sky.  Qra«lualiy  the  day  dawned, 
a  slowiy-liglitening  gray  at  first,  until  the  coming  huh  H{)attert><l  a  filmy 
cloud  with  gold  an<i  crimson.  Rcnmark  wat^'hed  the  glory  of  the  sun- 
rise, took  one  lingering  l(x)k  at  the  curved  beauty  of  the  bay  shore, 
fihook  the  sand  from  his  clothing,  and  started  imck  for  the  village  and 
the  camp  beyond. 

The  village  v/a»  astir  when  he  reached  it.  He  was  surprised  to  see 
Stoliker  on  horseback  in  front  of  one  of  the  taverns.  Two  assistants 
were  with  him,  also  seated  on  tiorses.  The  constable  seemecl  disturbed 
by  the  sight  of  Renmark,  but  he  was  there  to  do  his  duty. 

"  Hello  !"  he  cried,  "  you're  up  early.  I  have  a  warrant  for  the 
arrest  of  your  friend  :  I  suppose  you  won't  tell  me  where  he  is  ?" 

"  You  can't  expect  me  to  give  any  information  that  will  get  a 
friend  into  trouble,  can  you  ? — e8|)e<jidlly  as  he  has  done  nothing." 
V     "  That's  as  may  turn  out  before  a  jury,"  said  one  of  the  assistants, 
gravely. 

"  Yes,"  assented  Stoliker,  winking  quietly  at  the  professor.  "  That 
is  for  judge  and  jury  to  determine, — not  you."  ,  . 

"  Well,"  said  Kenmark,  "  I  will  not  inform  on  anyl)ody,  onless  I 
am  compelled  to,  but  I  may  save  you  some  trouble  by  telling  where  I 
have  been  and  what  I  have  seen.  I  am  on  my  way  back  from  the 
lake.  If  you  go  down  there  you  will  still  see  the  mark  of  a  boat's 
keel  on  the  sand,  and  probably  footprints.  A  boat  came  over  from  the 
other  shore  in  the  night  and  a  man  got  on  board.  I  don't  say  who  the 
man  was,  and  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter  in  any  way  except 
as  a  spectator.     That  is  all  the  information  I  have  to  give." 

Stoliker  turned  to  his  assistants,  and  nodded.  "  What  did  I  tell 
you  ?"  he  asked.     "  We  were  right  on  his  track." 

"You  said  the  railroad,"  grumbled  the  man  who  had  spoken 
before. 

"  Well,  we  were  within  two  miles  of  him.  Let  us  go  down  to  the 
lake  and  see  the  traces.     Then  we  can  return  the  warrant." 

Benmark  found  Yates  still  asleep  in  the  tent.  He  prepared  break- 
fast without  disturbing  him.  When  the  meal  was  ready  he  roused  the 
reporter  and  told  him  of  his  meeting  with  Stoliker,  advising  him  to 
get  back  to  New  York  without  delay. 

Yates  yawned  sleepily. 

"Yes,    he  said,  "I've  been  dreaming  it  all  out. 
in-law  to  tote  me  out  to  Fort  Erie  to-night." 

" Do  you  think  it  will  be  safe  to  put  it  oft'  so  long?" 

"  Safer  than  trying  to  get  away  during  the  day.  After  breakfast 
I'm  going  down  to  the  Bartlett  homestead.  Must  have  a  talk  with 
the  md  folks,  you  know.  I'll  spend  the  resf  of  the  day  making  up  for 
that  interview  by  talking  with  Kitty.  Stoliker  will  never  search  for 
me  there,  and  now  that  he  thinks  I'm  gone  he  will  likely  make  a  visit 
to  the  tent.  Stoliker  is  a  good  fellow,  but  his  strong  point  is  duty,' 
you  know,  and  if  he's  certain  I'm  gone  he'll  give  his  country  the 
worth  of  its  money  by  searching.  I  won't  be  back  for  dinner :  so  you 
can  put  in  your  time  reading  my  dime  novels.     I  make  no  reflectioub 


I'll  get  father- 


^mta 


msi 


